SOLICITOR-GENERAL

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I have no current plans to host any dinners, receptions or parties specifically for the EU presidency. Generally, all procurement is undertaken in line with the EC's procurement rules and must represent value for money. Wherever possible British products are used.

European Court of Justice

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list each item of UK legislation which has been or is being subjected to legal challenge in the European Court of Justice (a) on the grounds of an alleged conflict with Article 30 of the Treaty of Rome, (b) on the grounds of an alleged conflict with another article of the treaty and (c) on other grounds, together with the date (i) on which each challenge was instituted and (ii) of the court decision.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is extremely broad covering a period of over 30 years and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information about European Court of Justice cases is widely published, in particular on their website and in the European Court Reports.

Fraud Convictions (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people have been convicted of fraud in (a) Southend and (b) Essex in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The following table shows the number of offenders convicted at all courts of fraud offences from 1997 to 2003, in the south-east Essex petty sessional area (which covers Southend and some parts of Rayleigh, Benfleet and Canvey) and the Essex police force area. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  South-east Essex psa Essex police force area 
		
		
			 1997 78 355 
			 1998 64 358 
			 1999 79 338 
			 2000 79 319 
			 2001 60 316 
			 2002 54 311 
			 2003 56 314

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Solicitor-General how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in the Law Officers' Departments in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Details on the use of laptop computers by the Law Officers' Departments between 1995–96 and 2004–05 are given, where available, in the following table. Details have not always been held centrally and would incur disproportionate cost to obtain for the periods not available.
	Laptop computers have facilitated greater flexibility of working for all staff and are particularly useful for prosecutors working out of office at police stations and courts.
	
		Law Officers' Department use of laptop computers
		
			   Attorney General's Office(1) Treasury Solicitors Department 
			  Ministers Officials  Officials 
			  Number Number £ Number £ 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a n/a 5 2,025 
			 1999–2000 0 9  5 2,025 
			 2000–01 0 2  11 4,149 
			 2001–02 9 2 17,235 32 14,897 
			 2002–03 2 4  76 42,341 
			 2003–04 2 4  96 53,960 
			 2004–05 4 2  107 60,658 
			 Lost and/or stolen(6) 0 0  4 stolen +2 lost since 
			 in period 2001–02 
		
	
	
		
			  Crown Prosecution Service(3) Revenue and Customs  Prosecutions Office(3) Serious Fraud Office 
			  Officials 
			  Number £ Number £ Number £ 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— n/a n/a 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— n/a n/a 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— n/a n/a 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— 21 n/a 
			 1999–2000 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— 22 n/a 
			 2000–01 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— 16 n/a 
			 2001–02 n/a n/a (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— 90 n/a 
			 2002–03 449 102,704 (3)(5508010004)— (3)(5508010004)— 122 n/a 
			 2003–04 899 454,158 10 10,000 357 n/a 
			 2004–05 967 714,644 10  337 n/a 
			 Lost and/or stolen(6) in period 20 since 2002–03 0 since 2003–04 3 since 1999–2000 
		
	
	(1)There are no special advisers
	(2)Figures for the CPS include HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. The CPS does not own laptop computers; since 2002, it has had a Public Finance Initiative contract for IT equipment under which a monthly charge is made for laptops.
	(3)RCPO was established in April 2005. Previously, as the Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office it owned the laptops identified in the table. It also had the use of some 17 laptops provided by HM Customs and Excise and the latter provision is included in the response for HM Revenue and Customs.
	(4)Laptops not in use.
	(5)RCPO and CEPO, its predecessor, not established
	(6)Records do not differentiate between laptops which are lost or stolen, except where specified

Serious Fraud Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 600W, on the Serious Fraud Office, when he will place the guidance which governs implementation of the revised version of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Library.

Mike O'Brien: The answer of 16 June 2005 was partially in error. There is no current intention to issue separate guidance governing the implementation of the revised version of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU is currently in the process of being revised and this is being co-ordinated by the Home Office. The MOU will be placed in the House of Commons Library after all parties to the MOU have agreed the revised version. The MOU will also be available upon request from any of the involved parties, including the Serious Fraud Office.

Police Officers (Speeding Prosecutions)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful prosecutions of police officers for speeding there have been in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not collected centrally.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Stipends

Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if the Church Commissioners will make it their policy to withhold the payment of stipends to clergymen and clergywomen who do not believe in God.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have no power towithhold stipends paid by or through them on the grounds of a cleric's beliefs.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Election Pilots

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission will issue guidance to local authorities with regards to applying for (a) all-postal voting pilots and (b) other forms of election pilot in (i) forthcoming by-elections and (ii) the 2005 local elections.

Peter Viggers: The Commission informs me that there is no requirement for it to issue guidance for local authorities on applications for electoral pilot schemes and I understand it has no present plans to do so.

Individual Registration

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what research the Electoral Commission has conducted into the effect of individual registration on the electoral roll.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has published several research reports and updates on the impact of individual registration on overall levels of registration in Northern Ireland, the only part of the United Kingdom where there is individual registration at present. All of the Commission's reports, including the 2002 report The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002: An assessment of its first year in operation", are available on its website. The Commission is also currently undertaking research that will provide a better understanding of the extent and nature of under-registration across Great Britain.

Welsh Assembly

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will make a statement on the Government's plan to amend the electoral system for the Welsh Assembly to stop Party List candidates also running for constituency seats.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is considering what response, if any, to make to the White Paper 'Better Governance for Wales', in which a proposal to this effect features.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sports Bodies

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to reduce the burden of administration on sports bodies for which she is responsible.

Richard Caborn: In March this year, having consulted widely in the sports sector, my Department and the Cabinet Office published a joint report, entitled Making a Difference—Reducing Burdens in School and Community Sport, on reducing administrative burdens in school and community sport.
	As sponsoring Minister for the report it is my belief that the successful implementation of its recommendations will enable staff and volunteers in sporting bodies to focus on what they do best—delivering successful and rewarding sporting opportunities.

Drinks Pricing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to raise awareness of the implications for responsible drinking of the Office of Fair Trading's ruling on minimum drinks pricing.

James Purnell: As part of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, Government are working with the alcohol industry to ensure that irresponsible drinks promotions can be addressed. I understand that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has not made any ruling on this matter. However, they have provided advice on the application of competition law to measures that may be taken in this area, to a number of local authorities and to the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS). LACORS has circulated this advice to the licensing specialists of local authorities as well as posting it on its website.

Young People (Sports)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on competitive sports for young people.

Richard Caborn: In December 2004, the Government announced the creation of Competition Managers. These new posts will play a key role in delivering the Government's aim of a high quality school sport national competition framework by 2010 by co-ordinating the planning, management and implementation of competitive sport between schools. This will complement the principles of long-term athlete development by identifying talented young people with the potential to reach elite or even Olympic levels of performance. It will also increase and widen the opportunities for all children to take part in competitive sports at school. By September 2005, 20 managers will be appointed in England and Wales, a further 45 managers are due to be appointed by September 2006 and 90 managers by September 2007.

Digital Television

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress towards digital switchover.

James Purnell: Great progress has been made. 62 per cent. of households are now estimated to have digital television.
	As we said in our Manifesto, we will achieve digital switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high-quality, free-to-view and subscription digital TV. This will happen region by region, and we will make sure that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected.

Digital Television

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the switchover fromanalogue to digital television to take place in the Border Television region; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: As we said in our manifesto, we will achieve digital switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high-quality, free-to-view and subscription digital TV. This will happen region by region, and we will make sure that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected.
	The indicative regional order published by Ofcom in February suggests that Border will be the first region to switch. The Government will confirm the region-by-region timetable in due course.

Digital Television

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on digital television coverage in Swansea East.

James Purnell: The vast majority of households in Swansea can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.

Digital Television

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many applications for Local Digital Service Programme Licences there have been in the past five years; and how many were (a) granted and (b) refused;
	(2)  how many applications for National Digital Service Programme Licences there were in the past five years; and how many were (a) granted and (b) refused.

James Purnell: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Digital Television

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to change the number of (a) Local Digital Service Programme Licences, (b) National Digital Service Programme Licences and (c) National Radio Licences.

James Purnell: I have no plans as this is a matter for the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom's duties and responsibilities for licensing digital programme services and digital sound programme services are set out in the Broadcasting Act 1996 and the Communications Act 2003.

Digital Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of households affected by restrictive covenants that prevent external satellite dishes on properties; what proportion of these households are unable to obtain digital television via any other means; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Restrictive covenants are private agreements that prevent an owner from carrying out certain actions on their own land. Some covenants are intended to benefit and bind the original parties only, whereas others are intended to benefit and bind successive owners of the land.
	No information is held centrally about the number of homes which may have an operative restrictive covenant which may either explicitly or implicitly prevent the installation of an external satellite dish or aerial.

Digital Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy to support the use of integrated reception systems to provide digital services in multiple dwelling units; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Many residents living in multi-dwelling units are already able to access digital television services either through communal systems that are capable of transmitting digital signals or through the use of other antennae.
	We recognise that all landlords who own or manage communal TV systems need to start taking steps to prepare for digital switchover. In association with the Chartered Institute of Housing, we are developing comprehensive new guidance for landlords who have properties with analogue communal systems which need to be upgraded. The guidance, which will be published shortly, will be aimed at both the private and social sector landlords.
	However, it is for individual landlords consulting as appropriate with residents, to determine how to upgrade communal television systems for digital services.

Digital Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to offer incentives to landlords to update communal reception arrangements to integrated reception system standards; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: We have no plans to offer financial incentives to landlords to update communal television systems for digital television services.

National Lottery

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from charities in respect of the distribution of National Lottery grants.

Richard Caborn: I receive representations from time to time about the distribution of Lottery grants, some of these are from charities. The National Lottery Bill will create a better framework for distributing Lottery money to charities and other voluntary and community organisations. My predecessor discussed this with representatives of the voluntary sector and I will be meeting them again soon to renew those discussions.

National Lottery

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been provided from National Lottery funds to support the development of (a) netball, (b) tennis, (c) football, (d) rugby union, (e) rugby league, (f) cricket and (g) motor sport in England in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: Lottery funding to support the development of sport in England is distributed primarily through Sport England. The Big Lottery Fund also administers lottery grants to individual sports through the Awards for All programmes. Details of this funding over the last five years can be found in the following table:
	
		
		
			  200001 200102 200203 
			  Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England 
		
		
			 Netball 269,674 1,856,225 283,745 4,334,320 625,746 3,278,965 
			 Tennis (including real and lawn) 410,320 4,484,174 384,488 11,898,237 816,571 10,703,470 
			 Football 1,836,937 5,568,920 1,705,632 26,218,174 3,390,823 9,281,074 
			 Rugby Union 355,904 2,360,269 525,488 2,566,082 763,260 5,393,585 
			 Rugby League 370,728 1,981,519 216,828 4,193,472 398,774 683,171 
			 Cricket 1,341,312 22,197,439 1,695,650 5,919,613 2,366,232 13,702,207 
			 Motor sport 7,945 16,051 21,148  17,806  
		
	
	
		
		
			  200304 200405 
			  Awards for All Sport England Awards for All Sport England 
		
		
			 Netball 639,760 2,185,632 174,479 1,143,214 
			 Tennis (including real and lawn) 586,657 3,478,419 261,675  
			 Football 3,252,416 7,092,736 1,598,545 2,095,669 
			 Rugby Union 558,827 3,607,813 153,500 150,000 
			 Rugby League 389,282 5,695,815 147,124  
			 Cricket 1,840,244 9,010,458 661,856 1,822,875 
			 Motor sport 10,000
		
	
	Further lottery grants from Sport England were made through World Class Funding and through Whole Sport Plans (200405):
	
		
		
			  Sport World Class Funding (overall)  Whole Sport Plans 
		
		
			 Netball 9,258,470 500,000 
			 Tennis 500,000 500,000 
			 Football 500,000 500,000 
			 Rugby Union 13,512,908 1,000,000 
			 Rugby League 5,437,347 410,000 
			 Cricket 6,862,528 500,000 
			 Motor Sport   
		
	
	And additionally, a large number of the multi-sport projects Sport England has funded have benefited these sports. Since 1 April 2000, Sport England has awarded 364,201,963 to multi-sport projects.

National Lottery

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the likely impact on (a) public health, (b) education and (c) the environment of abolishing the Big Lottery Fund and instead equally dividing the National Lottery Good Causes' funds between charities, arts, heritage and sport from 2009; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The three new good cause areas of health, education and the environment were only created in 1998. They stand alongside, not in place of, the four other good causes. I have no intention of abolishing either them or the Big Lottery Fund, or of making an assessment of the opportunities which would be missed if we were to abolish them.

Licensing Act

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made with the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: As I announced to the House on June 8, the Licensing Act 2003 will be fully implemented on November 24. My Department has initiated an intensive and targeted publicity campaign, and is working closely with industry and local authority representatives to advise licensees of the need to convert their existing licences before the deadline of 6 August and the recent upturn in applications reflects the impact of this campaign.

Licensing Act

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of amateur sports clubs which might have to pay more to operate as licensed premises following the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: We do not have figures for the numbers of sports clubs in particular that hold full justices' on-licences or club registration certificates. However, at 30 June 2004 there were 19,913 registered clubs in England and Wales. This number also includes political, ex-services, working men's and other clubs as well as Miners' Welfare Institutes.
	It should be noted that sports clubs do not just pay the fee of 16 now for a registration certificate allowing them to supply alcohol. Those that obtain permanent extensions for their bars must pay an additional 25 for their special hours certificate. To obtain such a certificate, the club must first obtain a certificate of suitability from its local authority. This is essentially the same as a public entertainment licence and costs vary between local authority areas from 50 to 500 annually. Those clubs without permanent extensions of hours but which open their bars later for special occasions like Christmas and other holiday dances and functions, weddings, anniversaries or during periods like World Cups abroad, must pay for each permission to extend their hours. These are occasional permissions and special orders of exemption. Each costs the club 10 and many clubs will have as many as 12 per year. All of this and the bureaucracy involved is swept away by the 2003 Act. Under the new licensing regime, the fee of between 100-635 will cover all the activities and hours involved, and the majority of sports clubs will pay no more than 100, and 70 annually thereafter.
	The new fees are intended to do no more than recover the licensing authorities' (local authorities') costs of administration, inspection and enforcement.

Licensing Act

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of public houses which may lose their license as a result of failing to meet the (a) deadlines and (b) requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: The information is as follows:
	(a) No estimate has been made of the number of public houses which may lose their licenses as a result of failing to meet the deadlines set out in the legislation.
	My Department estimates that (b) some 50 public houses and other licensed premises may lose their licenses under the new licensing regime, following possible objections from the police and others. The 2003 Act allows for such objections in the interests of giving local communities more say in licensing decisions. The estimate is low as the majority of public house licenses will have been reviewed relatively recently under the existing licensing regime.

Licensing Act

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from the Local Government Association on the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: Ministers and officials have frequent contact with the Local Government Association about the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. The association is also a member of the high level group of senior representatives of key stakeholders which we established to monitor and evaluate implementation of the Act. Minutes of the group's meetings are available on my Department's website www.culture.gov.uk

Licensing Act

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with trade associations representing companies involved in the retail of alcohol who are or will be affected by the new licensing regime.

James Purnell: I chair a high level group to ensure the smooth running of the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. This group contains representatives of trade associations as well as representatives of central Government, local government, and the police. The minutes of the meetings of this group are available on the DCMS website at http://www.culture.gov.uk/alcohol_and_entertainment/hlm_sogroup.htm.

Licensing Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from the (a) Local Government Authority and (b) individual licensing authorities about the timetable for licensing applications before (i) 6 August and (ii) the second appointed day in November.

James Purnell: The Local Government Association has made clear that they are not in favour of changing either the 6 August date for transitional applications, or the second appointed day of 24 November, when the Licensing Act 2003 comes into force. Some individual local authorities have sought that these dates be delayed. We do not intend to move either of these dates. A change to the 6 August deadline would require primary legislation, which is not feasible before that date. Any delay in implementing the Act would be counter-productive as it would also delay the important powers under the Act to deal with alcohol-fuelled violence and antisocial behaviour.

Licensing Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the number of applications for licences under the Licensing Act 2003 received by licensing authorities by 30 June; what percentage of the projected total those represent; whatproportion have applied for a variation; and what proportion have applied for an entertainments licence.

James Purnell: As at 30 June we estimate that approximately 47,500 applications for premises licences and club premises certificates under the Licensing Act 2003 have been made. This represents approximately 25 per cent. of existing licensed premises and registered clubs. We would expect 65 per cent. of these applications to involve variations. We have no estimate of the number of applications that will have included regulated entertainment as a licensable activity.

Licensing Act

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from Action with Communities in Rural England on the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on village halls and village social life.

James Purnell: Representations from Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have primarily concerned the complicated nature of some aspects of the new legislation, the role of designated premises supervisors and the limitations placed by the 2003 Act on the number of temporary event notices that may be given in respect of any individual premises in a calendar year. In response, my Department have continued to work closely and constructively with ACRE. The organisation recently commented publicly that DCMS have been very helpful in explaining the new processes and providing guidance and legal interpretation of the new legislation.

G8 Summit (Tourism)

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that visitBritain maximises the tourism opportunities arising from holding the G8 summit.

James Purnell: In view of the events of last Thursday, it would be inappropriate to discuss the G8 summit in terms of tourism. VisitBritain works continuously to use major international events to promote Britain overseas. That work will continue.

The Market for Art Report

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department expects to respond to the Sixth Report of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, HC 414, Session 200405, on The Market for Art.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will respond to the Report of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on The Market for Art before the summer recess.

The Market for Art Report

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with manufacturers and installers of play equipment on the implementation of the play programme for England of the Big Lottery Fund.

Richard Caborn: I have held no discussions with manufacturers or installers of play equipment regarding the Big Lottery Fund's play programme.

Culture and Commerce Conference

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure representatives of European trade unions are invited to the Conference on Culture and Commerce, being organised by her Department.

David Lammy: Yes.

Opera

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take further steps to make opera more accessible to wider audiences; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: Government support for opera is channelled through Arts Council England (ACE). All of the opera organisations funded by the Arts Council have policies in place to improve access to a wider and more diverse audience including ticket pricing policies, touring and the work of their education departments.

Osborne Estates Act

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what conditions she expects to be met before supporting measures to repeal the Osborne Estates Act 1902.

David Lammy: holding answer 7 July 2005
	We are fully committed to seeking Parliament's approval to amend the Osborne Estate Act 1902. There are no conditions attached to this, other than the need to find a suitable legislative slot.

Public Sector Spectrum

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions her Department has had with the Treasury on releasing public sector spectrum to the market; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: My Department has regular discussions with the Treasury and other Departments, on a wide range of issues, including spectrum matters.

Radio Station (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport if she will provide support for a radio station for Chorley; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Planning, licensing and regulation of independent radio in the UK is a matter for the independent regulator, Ofcom.
	My Department has made 0.5 million available for community radio for each of the years to 200708. The fund will be handled by Ofcom, who will take decisions on allocation in due course.

Sport England

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding was allocated to Sport England by her Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) Government region and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Exchequer funding allocated to Sport England by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport can be broken down by Government region. This is shown in the following table:
	
		Regional costs 19972004 -- 
		
			  Financial year 
			  199697 199798 199899 19992000 
		
		
			 Northern 1,131,020 1,114,129 548,850 799,755 
			 Yorkshire 1,303,919 1,272,570 740,530 1,102,934 
			 East Midlands 1,262,237 1,242,020 772,700 1,017,987 
			 Eastern 1,289,334 1,236,528 748,250 931,789 
			 London 1,494,021 1,118,350 487,372 819,746 
			 South-east 1,078,175 1,053,715 475,528 810,109 
			 Southern(7) 1,080,764 1,208,279 493,871 945,355 
			 South-west 1,164,165 1,227,023 607,950 813,456 
			 West Midlands 1,193,329 1,301,333 733,750 1,122,526 
			 North-west 1,359,291 1,412,961 759,320 1,262,145 
			 Total costs 12,356,255 12,186,908 6,368,121 9,625,802 
			  
			 Out of a total  funding of: 15,700,000 33,700,000 33,500,000 34,500,000 
		
	
	
		
		
			  Financial year 
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Northern 845,203 767,043 801,011 616,522 
			 Yorkshire 929,366 1,101,121 1,026,042 589,873 
			 East Midlands 923,216 865,806 765,791 554,271 
			 Eastern 897,524 780,252 580,779 415,681 
			 London 1,035,734 1,251,373 959,769 615,197 
			 South-east 741,993 1,533,149 1,242,907 777,329 
			 Southern(7) 967,330 0 0 0 
			 South-west 948,582 917,756 844,576 585,641 
			 West Midlands 982,481 1,006,831 1,032,574 636,513 
			 North-west 1,204,827 1,343,257 1,211,431 634,001 
			 Total costs 9,476,254 9,566,589 8,464,881 5,425,029 
			  
			 Out of a total  funding of 34,500,000 34,500,000 34,725,000 39,475,000 
		
	
	(7)Sport England no longer recognise a separate Southern region.
	Note:
	These are the total regional costs delivered locally, it excludes any nationally delivered regional programmes.
	It is not possible to provide figures on funding allocated to Sport England by parliamentary constituency.

Television Licence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in Hampshire have been prosecuted for not having a television licence in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: The data collected by the Home Office relate to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. The number of people proceeded against for such offences at magistrates courts in Hampshire in each of the last five years for which information is available was:
	
		
			  Proceeded against(8) 
		
		
			 1999 1,728 
			 2000 3,968 
			 2001 3,282 
			 2002 2,110 
			 2003 1,814 
		
	
	(8)These data are on the principal offence basis.

Television Licence

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a television licence will be required for television-on-mobile devices.

James Purnell: The BBC, as television licensing authority, is responsible for interpreting the licensing regulations and determining the licensing requirements for specific equipment. However, the general position is that a television licence is required to install or use a television receiver, which is defined in regulations as any apparatus installed or used for the purpose of receiving any television programme service. Mobile or portable devices are not exempt from the licensing requirements, but a television licence for a person's home address covers the use, anywhere else in the United Kingdom, by the licensee or any person normally living with them at the licensed address, of a portable television receiver powered solely by its own internal batteries.

Television Licence

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many prosecutions for failure to pay the TV licence fee there have been in each year since 2000.

James Purnell: The data available relate to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967 in England and Wales, and to all offences under the 1949 Act in Scotland, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. The number of people proceeded against for such offences in England, Scotland and Wales, in each year since 2000 for which information is available, was:
	
		
			  Proceeded against(9)(5508010010) 
		
		
			 2000 123,153 
			 2001 97,877 
			 2002 111,671 
			 2003 95,380 
		
	
	(9)Figures for Northern Ireland are not available.
	(10)On the principal offence basis.

Television Licence

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in the Mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency are in receipt of the free television licence for over 75-year-olds.

James Purnell: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency in 200405 was 4,745, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

PRIME MINISTER

Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 3 February 2005, Official Report, column 1010W, and to the letter of 1 March from the then Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Yeovil, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used by him in selecting Government bills that he will co-sponsor; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I support all Government bills whether sponsored or not.

Departmental Bills

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list bills that he has (a) sponsored and (b) co-sponsored in each session since 1997.

Tony Blair: This information is not held in the format requested. However, it is a matter of public record and can be found in the Official Report.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners and receptions which he hosts during the EU presidency at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: All procurement is undertaken in line with the European Commission's procurement rules and to obtain value for money. Where possible British products are used.

France

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the French Government on the issue of public statements regarding British cuisine; and what representations he has received on this subject.

Tony Blair: I have not made or received any representations on this matter.

Illegal Immigration

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister when (a) he and (b) his Office first became aware (i) of Home Office research into the number of people illegally in the country and (ii) that the research had made an estimate of the number of such people.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the afternoon press briefing given by my official spokesman on 30 June 2005, a copy of which is available on the Number 10 website.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1288, what evidential basis there was for Sir Richard Dearlove's assessment of United States administration policy contained in the memorandum.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1288.

Voting Record

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has voted in (a) divisions on the floor of the House and (b) deferred divisions in each session since 1997.

Tony Blair: This information is made available at the end of each parliamentary session in the Standard Note 'Members' participation in Commons Divisions'. Copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bird Scarers

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what regulations are in place on the use of audible bird scarers by farmers;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on the use of audible bird scarers by farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The National Farmers Union has produced a code of practice on the use of bird scarers, on which the Department was consulted. This code of practice recommends, among other things, that auditory bird scarers sound only four times in any one hour, and that they are placed as far away as is practicable from nearby hospitals, homes or schools in order to avoid causing a nuisance.
	Should a local authority receive a complaint of noise from an auditory bird scarer, they have a duty to take reasonable steps, where practicable, to investigate the complaint under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. If satisfied that the noise amounts to a statutory nuisance, or that a statutory nuisance is likely to occur or recur, the local authority must serve a notice requiring the noise to be abated or restricted. Failure to comply with an abatement notice can result in a fine of up to 20,000 upon summary conviction.

Car Audio Systems

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions were made in relation to waste from car audio systems under (a) Regulation 97 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and (b) other legislation in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	No data are available for prosecutions related to noise from car audio systems. Data are only available for noise offences committed against the Road Use (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 in total. In addition to Regulation 97, this would also include offences against Regulations 54 to 58 that prohibit excessive noise from modified or poorly maintained exhaust systems and silencers. On this basis, the number of fixed penalty notices issued and prosecutions recorded by the Home Office during 2003 in England and Wales were as follows:
	
		Fixed penalty notices and court proceedings for aiding, abetting, causing or permitting noise offences(11), England and Wales, 2003
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Fixed penalty notices issued 1,262 
			 Total proceeded against 2,653 
			 Total findings of guilt 1,808 
		
	
	(11)Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 5458, 9799.

Cetaceans

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to protect (a) whales, (b) dolphins and (c) porpoises in coastal waters.

Ben Bradshaw: The taking of whales, dolphins and porpoises is prohibited in EU and UK waters. In addition to EU measures adopted in 2004 to tackle the threat to small cetaceans from incidental capture in fisheries operating in Community waters, the UK has also put in place measures to protect common dolphins through a prohibition on pelagic pair trawl fishing for bass within 12 nautical miles of the south-west coast.

Dog Microchips

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of dogs in England which have not been micro-chipped; if she will initiate a campaign to increase micro-chipping of dogs; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Micro-chipping of dogs is currently undertaken through local registration schemes, therefore Government do not keep statistics on the number of dogs that have or have not been micro-chipped. There are no current plans for a national campaign to increase the micro-chipping of dogs.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department takes to promote English wines.

Jim Knight: The Government have a continuing supporting role in helping the wine industry and in particular, their endeavours to produce and market quality wines. This is encouraged through the Quality and Regional Wine Schemes which have been introduced by the Department to promote the quality and reputation of English and Welsh wine. Officials meet regularly with the industry to discuss producer concerns, and to monitor how these schemes are operating. I am very pleased that more and more producers are being persuaded to take part in these schemes.
	When suitable opportunities arise, we in the Department always endeavour to serve and promote national products including English wine. These occasions are an important means of introducing our wines to a new and influential audience. For example, British produce (including English wine) will be promoted generally during the UK presidency of the EU, and we plan to provide British produce and drink for all EU Council meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg over this period.
	In addition, English wine producers have benefited from Defra grants in excess of 350,000 to help with production and marketing.
	Defra has also been in recent contact with the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA), which represents a majority of English and Welsh wine producers, to encourage further uptake of marketing and processing assistance schemes available to the industry.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties she hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Since Defra was established in June 2001 I have followed a policy of serving British food and drink, including English wine. I am delighted that my Cabinet colleagues are intending to join me in promoting British food and drink more generally during the presidency. We are also planning to provide British produce and drink for all EU Council meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg during the UK presidency.

Fly-tipping

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 552W, on fly-tipping, if she will break down the figures provided by (a) region and (b) local authority.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 11 July 2005
	The data requested will be made available in the Library of the House.

Food Subsidy

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what subsidy was applied to food production in (a) the UK and (b) the EU in each year between 1999 and 2004, broken down by commodity.

Jim Knight: The tables show the value of subsidies that are directly linked to production of commodities as recorded by Eurostat in the Economic Accounts for Agriculture, for the EU 15 countries and the United Kingdom. They also show the value of other subsidies which are not linked to production but from which farmers have benefited as a consequence of engaging in production.
	The figures provided in the table exclude public expenditure on market support measures (e.g. export refunds, intervention) and they also exclude payments which, according to national accounts conventions, are recorded as capital transfers (which for the UK means that these figures exclude the foot and mouth disease compensation payments of 2001).
	Further detail may be obtained from the Eurostat website at http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int.
	
		European Union (15 countries) --  million
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(12) 
		
		
			 Crops   
			 Cereals (including wheat, barley, oats, rye) 10,673.0 11,821.0 12,325.9 12,703.8 12,298.0 12,761.3 
			 Industrial crops (including rape seed, sugar beet) 5,050.0 4,410.5 3,874.8 3,448.1 3,462.4 3,480.1 
			 Forage plants 822.0 923.3 1,042.4 1,027.9 1,065.7 1,021.3 
			 Other crop products (including olive oil, vegetables,  horticultural products, seeds) 2,544.8 2,587.7 2,610.4 2,802.9 2,691.7 2,673.5 
			 Total subsidies linked to crop output 19,089.8 19,742.5 19,853.5 19,982.7 19,517.8 19,936.1 
			
			 Animals and animal products   
			 Cattle 4,291.2 5,241.7 5,798.4 6,708.5 6,972.6 7,171.4 
			 Pigs 199.7 61.0 50.2 48.3 51.2 53.4 
			 Sheep and goats 1,926.0 1,614.4 1,029.6 1,628.5 1,688.1 1,703.4 
			 Other animals 48.2 21.8 21.6 22.0 21.0 18.9 
			 Animal products (including milk) 264.9 300.5 382.7 254.0 243.9 1,329.9 
			 Total subsidies linked to animal output 6,729.9 7,239.4 7,282.4 8,661.2 8,976.7 10,276.9 
			
			 Total subsidies linked to production 25,819.7 26,981.9 27,135.9 28,644.0 28,494.6 30,213.1 
			 Other subsidies, not linked to production 10,473.8 10,620.9 12,713.8 12,963.3 14,215.6 13,326.5 
			
			 Total subsidies 36,293.6 37,602.8 39,849.7 41,607.3 42,710.2 43,539.6 
		
	
	(12)Provisional.
	Source:
	http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int
	
		United Kingdom --  million
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(13) 
		
		
			 Crops   
			 Cereals (including wheat, barley, oats, rye) 1,069.6 1,200.4 1,024.5 1,153.3 1,053.2 1,056.5 
			 Industrial crops (including rape seed, sugar beet) 435.9 241.5 187.8 135.3 178.1 200.8 
			 Forage plants 103.5 93.6 110.5 112.6 103.1 104.6 
			 Other crop products (including olive oil, vegetables,  horticultural products, seeds) 15.6 12.3 11.8 10.7 9.2 7.9 
			 Total subsidies linked to crop output 1,624.6 1,547.8 1,334.6 1,411.9 1,343.5 1,369.7 
			
			 Animals and animal products   
			 Cattle 1,369.2 1,475.6 1,335.9 1,477.3 1,399.0 1,536.7 
			 Pigs 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Sheep and goats 621.8 553.1 295.2 451.4 413.4 465.4 
			 Other animals 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Animal products (including milk) 0.0 36.1 127.0 0.0 0.0 161.4 
			 Total subsidies linked to animal output 1,991.0 2,064.8 1,758.1 1,928.7 1,812.4 2,163.5 
			
			 Total subsidies linked to production 3,615.6 3,612.6 3,092.7 3,340.6 3,155.9 3,533.2 
			 Other subsidies, not linked to production 483.1 507.9 909.8 944.1 900.4 912.3 
			 Total subsidies 4,098.7 4,120.5 4,002.6 4,284.6 4,056.3 4,445.6 
		
	
	(13)Provisional.
	Source:
	http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int

Hazardous Waste

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consequences hazardous waste producers face if they do not register by the 16 July deadline; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Anyone who produces hazardous waste is required to notify their premises to the Environment Agency unless those premises fall within one of the categories listed as exempt in the Regulations. The removal of hazardous waste from any premises that is not either notified or genuinely exempt will be prohibited from 16 July and the Regulations provide that those who fail to comply may, on summary conviction, be subject to a fine of up to 5,000. Alternatively, the Environment Agency may choose to issue a Fixed Penalty of 300.
	In enforcing these Regulations, the Environment Agency will place the highest priority on the protection of human health and the environment and will expect all movements of hazardous waste to be accompanied by a consignment note. The requirement to notify premises will be enforced in line with their published enforcement and prosecution policy.

Hedgehogs/Badgers

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether there is a correlation between the decline in the hedgehog population and the increasein badger numbers; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 6 July 2005
	Mammals such as badgers and hedgehogs interact in a complex manner in the countryside. Badgers' main food source is earthworms but they will consume a wide variety of foods such as invertebrates, plant roots, fruits, cereals, animal carcasses, stored livestock feed and sometimes hedgehogs when conditions limit the source of earthworms.
	Long term data on hedgehog populations, over the period covering the badger population increase, would be required in order to answer the above question. Such a dataset does not exist, therefore it is not possible to conclude that badger population increase is the cause of a hedgehog population decline.
	Research is being carried out to obtain a greater understanding of these interactions. The Central Science Laboratory is conducting a replicated experimental assessment of the ecological consequences of badger removal within the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. The research includes estimating the abundance of hedgehog populations in selected regions of south-west England. Unpublished data from this research suggest that hedgehogs were less likely to be present in areas where badger sett density was high. Additionally, hedgehog numbers tended to increase when badgers were removed, suggesting that a relationship exists between badger density and hedgehog populations. It is hoped further analyses will reveal more on the nature of what is likely to be a complex relationship.

Hill Farmers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure the economic survival of hill farmers in England.

Jim Knight: Farmers in the English uplands currently receive in excess of 180 million in CAP payments. In2006 they will continue to be eligible for schemes under the England Rural Development Programme such as Environmental Stewardship and the Hill Farm Allowance, as well as the Single Payment Scheme.
	The Secretary of State gave a commitment on 22 April 2004 to consider how upland communities could receive appropriate support from rural development funds. Future arrangements are currently being reviewed in the context of the new EU Rural Development Regulation which will come into effect in 2007.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the implications of the introduction of identity cards for her Department.

Jim Knight: On 28 June 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the Identity Cards Scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the Identity Cards Scheme and the type of identity check(s) necessary to deliver the business benefits. In some cases, benefits could be realised without the use of card readers and the cost of installing any readers needs to be considered alongside future plans to refresh or upgrade IT systems. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit, which will allow us to prepare estimates of costs and benefits.

Llancloudy

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1643W, on Llancloudy, if she will ensure that no route for removal of waste from Hill Farm Llancloudy is agreed before her officials meet the hon. Member for Hereford and a representative of the Llancloudy Residents Association; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I can assure the hon. Member that my officials will not finalise agreement on the route for the removal of waste from Hill Farm, Llancloudy until they have met with the hon. Member and a representative of the Residents Association. My officials will be in contact with the hon. Member's office to arrange a mutually convenient date for the meeting.

Marine Noise Pollution

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether marine noise pollution was discussed at the recent International Whaling Conference; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: At last year's (2004) annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission a special symposium was held on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on cetaceans. This year's meeting continued discussions on the potential negative impact of rising levels of disturbance on whale populations, due to factors such as ship traffic and seismic surveys, and it was decided to hold a scientific workshop to consider the effects of anthropogenic noise at next years meeting.
	My Department has been working with other countries, through the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) toward the prevention of significant disturbance to cetaceans, including that of acoustic disturbance.

Recycling

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Department has to make recycling facilities more readily available; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Responsibility for the provision of recycling facilities rests with local authorities who have been set statutory performance standards for 200304 and 200506 for the recycling and composting of household waste.
	Defra, and Government more widely, recognise the challenge local authorities in England face meeting these statutory performance standards and the increase in costs as waste is diverted away from landfill. Accordingly, we are providing increased levels of support and funding.
	Local authorities' main source of funding for waste management is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of the revenue support grant distributed by central Government each year, supplemented by council tax. In last year's Spending Review (SR2004) the Government announced an increase in EPCS Formula Spending Share block of 888 million by 200708 over 200405.
	Funding is also being provided from a variety of other sources to help authorities meet and exceed their targets. The Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG) is providing unringfenced funding to local authorities worth 45 million in 200506 and 105 million and 110 million in the two following years. Through the private finance initiative (PFI), credits worth 355 million have been made available in the three years to 200506 as an extra source of funding, with a further 535 million available in 200607 and 200708.
	Alongside the additional funding, we are providing increased support to local authorities through a number of organisations including the Waste Implementation Programme and the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
	Local authorities decide how to invest this funding in the provision of local recycling services that best meet local circumstances and the wishes of their electorate.

Recycling

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling points there are in each local authority in Essex per 1,000 population; and how many there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Results from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey and National Statistics mid-year population estimates are in the following table.
	A recycling point has been reported as either a recycling site or a civic amenity site. All civic amenity sites under the control of Essex Waste Disposal Authority, have been allocated to the district where that site is situated.
	
		
			  Recycling sites Civic amenity sites Total recycling sites Recycling sites per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 19992000 
			 Basildon 78 1 79 0.48 
			 Braintree (14)110 2 (14)112 0.87 
			 Brentwood 13 2 15 0.22 
			 Castle Point 20 1 21 0.24 
			 Chelmsford 97 2 99 0.64 
			 Colchester (14)50 1 (14)51 0.33 
			 Epping Forest 49 3 52 0.43 
			 Harlow 20 1 21 0.27 
			 Maldon 68 2 70 1.22 
			 Rochford 60 1 61 0.79 
			 Tendring 54 4 58 0.43 
			 Uttlesford (14)51 1 (14)52 0.76 
			  
			 Essex County WDA 670 21 691 0.53 
			  
			 Southend on Sea UA 20 2 22 0.14 
			 Thurrock UA 45 1 46 0.33 
			  
			 Total all Essex 735 24 759 0.48 
			  
			 200001 
			 Basildon 76 1 77 0.47 
			 Braintree 110 2 112 0.85 
			 Brentwood 12 2 14 0.20 
			 Castle Point 21 1 22 0.25 
			 Chelmsford 99 2 101 0.65 
			 Colchester 50 1 51 0.33 
			 Epping Forest 55 3 58 0.48 
			 Harlow 18 1 19 0.24 
			 Maldon 60 2 62 1.06 
			 Rochford 57 1 58 0.74 
			 Tendring 54 5 59 0.43 
			 Uttlesford 51 1 52 0.76 
			  
			 Essex County WDA 663 22 685 0.53 
			  
			 Southend on Sea UA 21 2 23 0.14 
			 Thurrock UA 28 1 29 0.20 
			  
			 Total all Essex 712 25 737 0.46 
			  
			 200102 
			 Basildon 76 1 77 0.46 
			 Braintree 131 2 133 1.00 
			 Brentwood 12 2 14 0.20 
			 Castle Point 21 1 22 0.25 
			 Chelmsford 96 2 98 0.62 
			 Colchester 61 1 62 0.40 
			 Epping Forest 55 3 58 0.48 
			 Harlow 19 1 20 0.25 
			 Maldon 58 2 60 1.01 
			 Rochford 58 1 59 0.75 
			 Tendring 65 5 70 0.50 
			 Uttlesford 60 1 61 0.88 
			  
			 Essex County WDA 712 22 734 0.56 
			  
			 Southend on Sea UA 20 2 22 0.14 
			 Thurrock UA 31 1 32 0.22 
			  
			 Total all Essex 763 25 788 0.49 
			 200203 
			 Basildon 68 1 69 0.41 
			 Braintree 131 2 133 0.99 
			 Brentwood 12 2 14 0.20 
			 Castle Point 21 1 22 0.25 
			 Chelmsford 96 2 98 0.62 
			 Colchester 58 1 59 0.38 
			 Epping Forest (14)55 3 (14)58 0.48 
			 Harlow 19 1 20 0.25 
			 Maldon 50 2 52 0.86 
			 Rochford 55 1 56 0.71 
			 Tendring 65 5 70 0.50 
			 Uttlesford 51 1 52 0.75 
			  
			 Essex County WDA 681 22 703 0.53 
			  
			 Southend on Sea UA 20 2 22 0.14 
			 Thurrock UA 28 1 29 0.20 
			  
			 Total all Essex 729 25 754 0.46 
			  
			 200304 
			 Basildon 68 1 69 0.41 
			 Braintree 124 2 126 0.93 
			 Brentwood 12 2 14 0.20 
			 Castle Point 21 1 22 0.25 
			 Chelmsford 96 2 98 0.62 
			 Colchester 58 1 59 0.37 
			 Epping Forest 55 3 58 0.48 
			 Harlow 18 1 19 0.24 
			 Maldon 58 2 60 1.00 
			 Rochford 55 1 56 0.71 
			 Tendring 65 5 70 0.50 
			 Uttlesford 60 1 61 0.87 
			  
			 Essex County WDA 690 22 712 0.53 
			  
			 Southend on Sea UA 20 2 22 0.14 
			 Thurrock UA 31 1 32 0.22 
			  
			 Total all Essex 741 25 766 0.47 
		
	
	(14)This figure is an estimated value used to replace a non-response on the survey questionnaire.

Recycling

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling points there are in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Ben Bradshaw: Results from the 200304 Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey are as follows:
	
		
			  Recycling sites Civic amenity sites Total sites 
		
		
			 (a) Total Lancashire 312 26 338 
			 Of which:
			 (b) Chorley 22 0 (15)22 
			 Total Lancashire derived from the following: 
			 Districts within Lancashire 275 0 275 
			 Blackburn with Darwin UA 11 2 13 
			 Blackpool UA 26 1 27 
			 Lancashire county WDA 0 23 23 
		
	
	(15)Chorley borough council has one civic amenity site run by Lancashire county WDA within its boundary. This has been excluded from the Chorley total.

Rural Employment

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobshave been created in rural areas in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) agricultural and (b) non-agricultural.

Jim Knight: Statistics on the creation of jobs are not collected by any Government Department in this format.
	The Labour Force Survey details the number of individuals in employment and can reliably be examined at local authority district level, though not at any smaller geographical scale. It is not therefore possible to give a definitive breakdown of changes in employment levels between urban and rural areas within local authority districts.
	However, using the current Countryside Agency broad classification of rural and urban Districts, and recognising that 'rural districts' contain many urban areas and vice versa, employment levels are as follows (changes in the survey approach do not allow for comparison before 200001):
	
		
			  Total in employment 
			  Rural districts Urban districts All districts 
		
		
			 200001 6,672,461 16,057,031 22,729,492 
			 200102 6,741,084 16,234,694 22,975,778 
			 200203 6,774,135 16,294,254 23,068,389 
			 200304 6,845,578 16,397,862 23,243,440 
		
	
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, ONS
	As can be seen over this period, overall employment levels increased by 3 per cent. in rural districts and 2 per cent. in all other districts.
	The June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey records the labour force on all farms in England. Data are available since 1997 and the numbers of people employed in agriculture is as follows, again using the current Countryside Agency classification of rural and urban districts:
	
		
			  Rural districts Urban districts All districts 
		
		
			 1997 311,842 81,263 393,105 
			 1998 315,396 81,161 396,557 
			 1999 302,002 77,016 379,018 
			 2000 298,141 76,147 374,288 
			 2001 307,898 78,866 386,764 
			 2002 295,326 76,498 371,824 
			 2003 282,516 71,865 354,381 
			 2004 292,783 74,707 367,490 
		
	
	Source:
	June Agricultural and Horticultural Survey, Defra
	These figures show that the labour force on agricultural holdings decreased by 6 per cent. between 1997 and 2004.
	Defra will very shortly publish a new urban/rural classification of local authorities districts which will enable a more detailed analysis of rural and urban statistical data. The tables included in this written answer will be recreated using the new classification when this is published and I will write to the hon. Member with this information.

Seal products

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy (a) to ban the importation of seal products into the United Kingdom and (b) to press for a similar ban in the EU.

Jim Knight: Council Directive 83/129/EEC (as amended by Council Directive 89/370/EEC) already imposes an EU-wide ban on the commercial import of certain seal skin products, including raw or tanned furskins, of whitecoat pups of harp seals and blueback pups of hooded seals. This Seals Directive is implemented in the UK by The Import of Seal Skins Regulations 1996.
	We have been advised by the Commission that it does not currently see any scientific basis for proposing an extension of the Seals Directive. We agree with the Commission but will reconsider our position if new data show that the levels of take by seal hunting are unsustainable and pose a conservation threat to either harp or hooded seals.

Trees

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase the number of native trees planted by the Forestry Commission; how many trees have been planted by Government agencies over the past 20 years in (a) England and (b) West Oxfordshire; and what targets to encourage the expansion of forests have been set.

Jim Knight: The Forestry Commission has embarked on a programme to restore 15,000 hectares of ancient semi-natural woodland on the public forest estate by 2020 and this will include planting and regenerating native tree species. In addition most new planting by the Commission, which is in the priority areas for improving the environment of disadvantaged urban communities, will be native broadleaves.
	In the recently published Action Plan for our new Statement of Policy for England's Ancient and Native Woodland there is a clear action to promote woodland creation which extends, buffers and links ancient woodland through both the English woodland grant scheme and environmental stewardship grants. In order to respect the biodiversity values of ancient woodland much of this type of woodland creation will involve the use of native species.
	Information on the number of trees planted by Government agencies is not recorded centrally. However, most new woodland planting is carried out by private landowners and is grant aided by the Forestry Commission. This has averaged over 4,600 hectares per year for the last 10 years and the majority of this planting has been with broadleaves and most of these have been native species.
	Our policy for the expansion of forests and woodland is set out in the England Forestry. Strategy published in 1998. This seeks a continued steady expansion of our woodland area to provide more benefits for society and our environment. Within this policy we have established some short-term targets, for example the creation of 30,000 hectares of new woodland under the current (200006) England Rural Development Programme.

UK-produced Food

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued on the minimum acceptable proportion of the UK's food needs which should be sourced from home-grown producers.

Jim Knight: The Government do not have a policy regarding a minimum level of food production, and therefore, have not issued guidance. The Government have a food security policy to ensure consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. The UK has long been a net importer of food and national and international food security is best facilitated through improved trading relationships based on more open international markets and reductions in trade distorting subsidies.

DEFENCE

Correspondence

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list letters received by (a) him and (b) other Ministers in his Department from hon. Members during the period 1 February to 5 May; and how many of these letters were replied to.

Don Touhig: We do not capture this information in the form requested. However, according to our current ministerial correspondence database, of the 1,329 letters received during this period for answer by Ministry of Defence Ministers, my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Defence has replied substantively to 149, while 1,167 have been responded to by other Ministers. Interim, or holding, replies have been sent to a further 10.

Correspondence

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list occasions during the period 1 February to 5 May on which (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department stated in written parliamentary answers that they would write to hon. Members in order further to clarify a specific matter; and whether this commitment was not undertaken on any occasion.

Don Touhig: Defence Ministers undertook to write to various right hon. and hon. Members in answer to 32 parliamentary questions between 1 February 2005 and 5 May 2005. Our records show that this commitment was not followed through on 16 occasions as it was not possible to provide clarification before Prorogation.

Departmental Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

Don Touhig: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Conferences and their associated costs are organised in accordance with departmental regulations.

Iraq

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects British troops to return to the UK when the British area of responsibility in Iraq is ready to hand over to Iraqi forces if the US area of responsibility is not ready for handover.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom is committed to Iraq under the mandate of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, and for as long as the Iraqi Government judge that the coalition is required to assist and develop the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and provide security. Factors in determining the scope and timeline for eventual UK force level reductions in Iraq will include: the readiness of the ISF to take responsibility for the range of security tasks; the overall security situation; and progress on the political process. We will assess each of these factors as they affect both the four provinces covered by Multinational Division (South East) and Iraq as a whole, in close consultation with the Government of Iraq and our coalition partners, particularly the United States.

Medal Citations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how individuals can obtain details of citationsaccompanying medals awarded to deceased relatives.

Don Touhig: Individuals seeking details of citations for awards to relatives who are deceased should write to the honours and awards branch at the relevant service address:
	Royal Navy
	Naval Secretary (Honours and Awards)
	Room 157A
	Victory Building
	HM Naval Base
	Portsmouth
	PO1 3LS
	Army
	Military Secretary 1
	Block 7
	Wellington Barracks
	Birdcage Walk
	London
	SW1E 6HQ
	Royal Air Force
	MOD Medal Office
	Building 250
	RAF Innsworth
	Gloucester
	GL3 1HW
	Surviving records pre-1937, or pre-1939 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, are available in The National Archives at the following address:
	The National Archives
	Ruskin Avenue
	Kew
	Richmond
	Surrey
	TW9 4DU

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of (a) the Meteorological Office headquarters in Exeter and (b) the weather stations in (i) Aberdeen, (ii) Belfast, (iii) Birmingham, (iv) Cardiff, (v) London and (vi)Manchester.

Don Touhig: The Meteorological Office facility recently established at Exeter houses the HQ, operations and research centre (Hadley Centre). The operations centre provides a 24 hour, seven day capability for weather centre forecasting and for issuing severe weather warnings. The outputs are delivered in real time on a national and international basis.
	The future of civil forecasting at Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, London and Manchester is the subject of current consultation by the Met Office. I will make a decision about the way ahead, taking full account of representations received, following the completion of consultation in autumn 2005.

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the strategic review of the Meteorological Office production network.

Don Touhig: holding answer 5 July 2005
	A copy of the consultation document will be placed in the Library of the House. I have already sent a copy of this document to those Members whose constituents may be affected by the final decision about the future of civil forecasting.

Official Residences

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the residential properties his Department's Ministers are entitled to use as part of their duties.

Don Touhig: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Defence Ministers are not presently entitled to use any official residential properties as part of their duties.

Premature Voluntary Release

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) private soldiers of each Army regiment and corps have left under Premature Voluntary Release terms in each of the last three years.

Don Touhig: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The information is as follows:
	
		UK Regular Army trained officer Premature Voluntary Release exits (PVR)
		
			  PVR 
			 Arm/service 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Staff 40 40 50 
			 The Honourable Artillery Company/Royal Armoured Corps 30 30 40 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 30 30 30 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers 30 40 30 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 30 30 30 
			 The Infantry 90 100 120 
			 Army Air Corps 10 20 20 
			 Royal Army Chaplain's Department (16) (16) (16) 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 60 60 70 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 20 30 20 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 30 30 30 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) (16) 10 10 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 20 30 20 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Educational and Training Services Branch) 10 10 20 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Services Branch) (16) 10 (16) 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps (16) (16) (16) 
			 Small Arms School Corps (16) (16) (16) 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps (16) (16) (16) 
			 Intelligence Corps 10 10 20 
			 Army Physical Training Corps (16) (16) (16) 
			 General List (16) (16) (16) 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 20 10 20 
			 Corps of Army Music (16) (16) (16) 
			 Total 440 500 530 
		
	
	
		UK Regular Army trained soldier Premature Voluntary Release exits (PVR)
		
			  PVR 
			 Arm/corps 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 The Honourable Artillery Company/Royal Armoured Corps 300 300 280 
			 Royal Regiment of Artillery 360 400 420 
			 Corps of Royal Engineers 470 490 620 
			 Royal Corps of Signals 420 380 440 
			 The Infantry 1,370 1,340 1,350 
			 Army Air Corps 80 60 90 
			 The Royal Logistics Corps 730 670 640 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps 90 80 110 
			 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 340 400 450 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Provost Branch) 120 110 150 
			 Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) 180 170 180 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps 10 10 (16) 
			 Small Arms School Corps (16) (16) (16) 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps 20 10 20 
			 Intelligence Corps 40 20 40 
			 Army Physical Training Corps 10 10 10 
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps 30 30 40 
			 Corps of Army Music 40 30 50 
			 Long Service List (16) (16) (16) 
			 Total 4,610 4,500 4,880 
		
	
	(16)represents zero, rounded to zero, or a percentage based upon a number rounded to or equal to zero.
	Notes:
	1.Data are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2.Numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid systematic bias.
	3.Totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.
	4.PVR occurrences broken down by regiment are not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average waiting time was for military personnel attending the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak to be given an appointment with a civilian consultant in the last period for which figures are available.

Don Touhig: The routinely collected data on waiting times for out-patients are specifically aimed at monitoring performance against the stated DMS targets.
	DMS targets are for 45 per cent. of all referrals to be seen within four weeks and 85 per cent. within 13 weeks. The waiting times for the period April 2003 to March 2004 show that 52.9 per cent. of referrals were seen within four weeks and 92.24 per cent. within the 13 week target.

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time taken to process a military patient through the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Selly Oak was in the last period for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the operational implications of the waiting time; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: It is not possible to give the average time taken to process military patients through the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine because of the wide variety of conditions that referred patients suffer from. At one end of the spectrum there may be, for example, patients with simple skin complaints who are seen and dealt with in a single out-patients. At the other extreme are patients with more complex or serious health problems which may be associated with a need for on going management programmes that can continue for months and even years.
	No specific assessment has been made of the operational impact of the patient processing times at the Royal College of Defence Medicine.

Royal Centre for Defence Medicine

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the longest time taken for the result of a blood test for a military patient to be processed by the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Selly Oak has been since the centre was established.

Don Touhig: RCDM does not collect information on the time taken to process blood tests for their patients.
	As with all blood tests the speed of the result depends upon the clinical priority of the patient and the type of blood test required.
	This ranges from within four hours for an in-patient/emergency patient to two to three weeks for more specialised blood tests.
	If an out-patient requires urgent testing they are sent to the blood department by the consultant and samples are taken there and then.

Scottish Infantry Recruitment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defencehow much funding has been allocated for the recruitment of soldiers to the Scottish Infantry Regiments in 2005; what strategies have been employed to boost recruitment levels; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Army's overall recruiting budget for the financial year 200506 is 85.355 million. It is not possible to accurately identify expenditure by region or for specific areas of the British Army.
	The current recruiting climate is a demanding one and the Army is working hard to meet its enlistment targets. In Scotland, a multi-media marketing campaign was conducted between October 2004 and April 2005 with the aim of improving recruitment into the Scottish Infantry. A further campaign began in April 2005 and will run until Match 2006 to support all aspects of Army recruiting in Scotland.

Scottish Infantry Recruitment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new soldiers have been recruited in Scotland since January; what targets were set; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Overall manning targets are set on the Army Training and Recruiting Agency by Director Manning (Army). This takes account both of the forecast of the numbers required and the financial allocations for any given year.
	Subsequently, HQ Recruiting Group allocates an indicative target to each of its 10 regional recruiting commands, of which Scotland is one.
	The table shows the results for Scotland for all Arms and Services against the indicative targets for each quarter (Quarter) in financial year 200405 and the first quarter of 200506.
	
		
			 Financial year Indicative target Enlisted soldiers Percentage achieved 
		
		
			 200405
			 Quarter l 160 200 123 
			 Quarter 2 500 400 80 
			 Quarter 3 150 180 124 
			 Quarter 4 470 360 76 
			 200506
			 Quarter l 210 150 69

Scottish Infantry Recruitment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the levels of recruitment to the Scottish Infantry Regiments in 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: None.

Shackleton Planes (Hearing Loss)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from veterans who claim to have been affected by hearing loss as a result of flying in Shackleton planes; and what estimate he has made of the number of veterans who have so far been affected.

Don Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1067. The additional information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Trident

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations he took into account in deciding to stop targeting the Trident nuclear deterrent.

John Reid: The missiles have been detargetted since 1994. The policy of detargetting the United Kingdom's Trident missiles was confirmed in the 1998 strategic defence review, to reflect improvements in the strategic environment since the end of the cold war.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bulgaria (EU Accession)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the outstanding areas of concern relating to Bulgaria's accession to the European Union.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The European Commission wrote to the Bulgarian Government at the start of June 2005. It stated that Bulgaria is 'generally on track in meeting its commitments and requirements arising from the accession negotiations in most areas'. But it noted that Bulgaria still needs to implement important elements of the acquis and identified five key areas requiring particular attention:
	1. freedom to provide services;
	2. company law;
	3. agriculture;
	4. environment;
	5. justice and home affairs.

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's position is on the development and capability of the Common Foreign and Security Policy; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: As stated in the White Paper issued on 30 June 2005, the Government are a strong supporter of developing more active, coherent and capable EU external policies, including the Common Foreign and Security Policy, as set out in the European Security Strategy of December 2003. The Government's priorities in this area are set out in paragraphs 75 to 101 of the White Paper. The Government are also committed to enhancing the military and civilian capabilities from member states available for missions carried out under the European Security and Defence Policy, as an integral part of an active Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Departmental Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on organising or sponsoring conferences for each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Details of these events are not held centrally within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

European Union

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to improve the regulatory environment in the EU during the UK presidency.

Douglas Alexander: Advancing Better Regulation in the EU is a priority during the UK presidency. Improving the regulatory environment is central to increasing EU competitiveness. For further information, I refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper on the UK's presidency of the European Union (Cm 6611).

European Union

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to propose changes to the EU Services Directive during the UK presidency.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper on the UK's presidency of the European Union (Cm 6611). The Services Directive is a crucial next step for the Single Market, vital for growth and jobs. The UK presidency will take forward discussion with a view to resolving the political and social concerns about the Directive.

Government Wine Cellar

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of (a) blue chip list wines, (b) fine wines, (c) reception or drinking wines and (d) spirits and liqueurs were held in the Government wine cellar, managed by his Department in each of the last five years; what the estimated value was in each year; what the total estimated value of the Government wine cellar was in each year; how much was spent on (i) blue chip list wines, (ii) fine wines, (iii) reception or drinking wines and (iv) spirits and liqueurs in each year; what the total expenditure on the Government wine cellar was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Government wine cellar holds approximately 3739,000 bottles of wine at any given time. No distinction is made between blue chip and fine wines. Approximately 34,000 bottles of the stock are beverage or reception wines. Small quantities of spirits and liqueurs are held for general use. There has been no significant variation in the last five years.
	From 200004 the valuation placed on the cellar was approximately 1.6 million. From 2004, on the advice of the National Audit Office, the valuation was changed to reflect the cost price of the stock rather than the previous market valuation. The cellar is now valued at around 0.7 million.
	The total annual spend on the cellar varies from around 75,000 per annum to approximately 97,000, depending on stock levels and consumption.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's pursuit of a nuclear program.

Kim Howells: Our policy towards Iran is one of constructive, but critical engagement. We maintain a robust dialogue on issues of concern, such as Iran's nuclear programme.
	Our Government, together with France and Germany, supported by the European Union High Representative, (the E3/EU) has agreed to negotiations with Iran on long-term arrangements as laid down in the Paris Agreement of November 15 2004. These arrangements will provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.

St. Helena's Chapel (Istanbul)

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department plans to lease the churchyard of St. Helena's chapel in Istanbul to a commercial organisation;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to restore St.Helena's chapel which is part of the British consulate in Istanbul.

Jack Straw: We are considering options for St.Helena's chapel with the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe and will continue to work for an outcome which meets the needs both of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and The Church.

UK Consular Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capacity of consular services to assist stranded UK travellers in the event of a major scheduled airline failure in (a) peak season, (b) mid-season and (c) low-season.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 187W. The capacity of our consular services to assist stranded travellers in peak season would undoubtedly be stretched further than in mid or low season due to factors such as availability of alternative transport and numbers travelling. It is for this reason that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office strongly recommends that UK citizens travelling abroad take out comprehensive travel insurance.

Visa Applications

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent policy of British consulates in (a) India and (b) Jamaica in respect of visa applicants who were young, single, and of marriageable age.

Kim Howells: There is no specific policy relating to visa applicants from either India or Jamaica who may be considered young, single and of marriageable age. The UK welcomes all genuine applicants.

Visa Applications

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasons for the length of time taken to process (a) the visit visa applications of relatives of Mr. Mirza lodged in July 2004 reference numbers 851813, 851815, 851816, 851832 and 851782 and (b) the appeals lodged in January 2004.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 July 2005
	I regret that I cannot provide my hon. Friend with this information as under the Data Protection Act, we cannot disclose details of individual cases in a public forum without the individual's written consent. My noble Friend the Lord Triesman of Tottenham, the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas, has however written to my hon. Friend about these applications.

TRANSPORT

A380 Aircraft

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those UK airports that will be able to handle the A380 aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: I understand that both Heathrow and Manchester airports will be able to handle the A380 when it enters into service in 2006. Nottingham East Midlands airport will also accept the A380 from 2006 but for cargo purposes only.
	Gatwick airport will be able to accept the A380 in 2006 on diversion only with plans for full operations in 2008. Stansted airport has plans to handle the A380 in 2011.

Aircraft Noise (Twickenham)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average noise level above the Twickenham area for London Heathrow take-offs and landings (a) excluding and (b) including Concorde has been in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: There is no specific noise monitoring of flights in the Twickenham area. The Civil Aviation Authority's Environmental Research and Consultancy Department produces annual noise contours at Heathrow on behalf of the Department. These are published on the Department's website. The latest report (ERCD 0401, July 2004) shows that Twickenham lies outside the 57dBA contour area normally considered to represent the onset of significant community annoyance.

Blue Badges

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to reduce the theft of disabled persons' Blue Badges;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to set up a national register of disabled persons' Blue Badge holders to prevent the theft and reuse of disabled persons' Blue Badges;
	(3)  if he will introduce legislation to make it a criminal offence intentionally to use a disabled person's Blue Badge known, or reasonably known, to be stolen; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence to park in a designated disabled persons parking bay without displaying a Blue Badge.

Karen Buck: The Department has made provision for a power to inspect Blue Badges through Section 94 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and we will shortly be consulting on the guidance for enforcement officers and badge holders. The new power will be introduced later in 2005 by Commencement Order once the necessary guidance is in place. We are also reintroducing a hologram onto the badge as part of a draft regulatory package that we hope to consult on during the summer with the intention of implementing later in the year. The Department is also discussing with the Home Office ways in which the abuse of Blue Badges, including theft, can be tackled.
	The Department has recently let a research contract looking into the feasibility of a national Blue Badge database. This is scheduled for completion in December 2005, when the final report containing recommendations should be available.
	It is already an offence under Section 21 (4B) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, as introduced by Section 35(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1991, to drive a motor vehicle displaying a badge unless the badge is properly issued and displayed. It is also an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a designated disabled persons' parking bay.

Concessionary Travel

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money will be allocated to each local authority to cover the cost of the concessionary travel fare scheme for pensioners.

Karen Buck: Final decisions on the distribution of the extra funding have not been made.

Consultation (North-West)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations he consults when considering transport issues affecting the north-west region.

Karen Buck: On matters specific to the north-west we consult the local authorities, and regional representative bodies and a range of interest groups. National consultations on the whole range of transport matters will also include organisations representing the interests of those in the north-west.

Crossrail

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on private sector investment in the Crossrail project.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 7 July 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Southport (Dr. Pugh) on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 528W.

Driving Licences (Eye Conditions)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of issuing restricted driving licences to people with retinistis pigmentosa.

Stephen Ladyman: Based on current guidelines and expert advice, restricted licences (other than short period licences to allow for regular review) are not issued to those with retinitis pigmentosa.
	A European Commission medical expert working group has been considering the medical standards applied across the European Union in relation to vision and driving and is due to report shortly. Existing licensing arrangements for people with visual problems will be reviewed in light of this report.

Driving Licences (Eye Conditions)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of introducing a restricted driving licence to drivers who marginally fail the mechanical 120 degree test resulting from European Directive (91/439/EEC) which would be indicated on a vehicle with an R sign and which would restrict drivers to a speed of 40 mph and prohibit them from driving on motorways.

Stephen Ladyman: A European Commission medical expert working group has been considering the medical standards applied across the European Union in relation to vision and driving and is due to report shortly. Existing licensing arrangements for people with visual problems will be reviewed in light of this report, but it is unlikely that we will introduce a restricted license of the type described.

Driving Test Results

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) passes and (b) failures of motor car driving tests there were in each test centre in Worcestershire in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The results of practical car driving tests conducted at Worcester driving test centre in each of the last five years are shown in the table:
	
		Worcester driving test centre pass/fail stats 200005
		
			  Fail Pass Total Percentage pass 
		
		
			 200001 2,368 1,987 4,355 45.6 
			 200102 2,430 2,379 4,809 49.5 
			 200203 2,436 2,378 4,814 49.4 
			 200304 2,868 2,729 5,597 48.8 
			 200405 3,961 3,150 7,111 44.3

Hastings to Bexhill Link Road

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received opposing the proposed Hastings to Bexhill Link Road; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 7 July 2005
	My Department has, over the last twelve months, received written representations both for and against the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road, a proposed local transport major road scheme. Around 750 representations were received opposing the scheme.

Heathrow

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra security measures will be put in place to deal with increased traffic through Heathrow as a result of a fifth terminal being built.

Karen Buck: Terminal Five, like the rest of Heathrow and other UK airports, will be subject to the UK national aviation security programme which is in place to prevent unlawful interference with civil aviation in the UK.

Heathrow

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the noise insulation scheme will be applicable to Kingston as a result of the fifth terminal being built at Heathrow.

Karen Buck: There are no requirements for provision of noise insulation that relate to the construction or coming into use of the fifth terminal at Heathrow.
	Government policy on measures to address the impacts of future airport growth are set out in the White Paper, The Future of Air Transport 1 . We expect airport operators to offer acoustic insulation to any residential property which suffers a daytime noise level of 63dBA Leq 2 and a large increase in noise (3dBA Leq or more). Noise contours to determine the relevant boundaries should be produced in 2007, comparing noise levels in 2006 with those in 2002, and at 5 yearly intervals thereafter.
	Proposals for new noise insulation schemes in respect of night-time noise are set out in the consultation paper Night Flying Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports: Stage 2 of Consultation on Restrictions to apply from 30 October 2005 that we published in June 3 . The map at annex G of the consultation paper shows the proposed boundaries for the Heathrow scheme do not include any part of Kingston-upon-Thames. The consultation closes on 16 September.
	1 Cm 6046, December 2003.
	2 A measure of long-term average noise exposure. For aircraft it is the level of a steady sound which, if heard continuously over the same period of time, would contain the same total sound energy as all the aircraft noise events. 3 The forthcoming publication of the consultation paper was announced on 9 June 2005, House of Commons, Official Report, column 59WS.

Heathrow

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the revenue that will be generated by the expansive shopping arena planned for the fifth terminal at Heathrow.

Karen Buck: The provision of retail facilities was considered during the Heathrow Terminal 5 planning inquiry. The inquiry inspector's conclusions and his recommendation that Terminal 5 should go ahead were accepted in the decision letter of 20 November 2001.
	The retail revenue that will be generated from the shopping facilities planned for T5 is a matter for the airport operator.

Identity Card

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of equipping premises for which his Department has responsibility with identity card readers, with particular reference to (a) airports, (b) seaports and (c) the British Transport Police.

Karen Buck: We have been working with the Home Office to identify areas where the Identity cards Scheme could provide business benefits. On 28 June 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the Identity Cards Scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. The cost of equipping premises will depend on the nature of the use of the Identity Cards Scheme and the type of identity check(s) necessary to deliver the business benefits. In some cases, benefits could be realised without the use of card readers and the cost of installing any readers needs to be considered alongside future plans to refresh or upgrade IT systems. As the design of the scheme matures, during and after the procurement exercise, so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit which will allow us to further refine our estimates of costs and benefits.

Lancaster Link Road

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objections his Department has made to Lancashire county council's proposals to build a link road to the motorway south of Lancaster.

Stephen Ladyman: In 2001 the Department for Transport considered the western bypass, a major scheme proposal to link Heysham with the M6. The Department's view, as expressed in the local transport capital expenditure letter, was that the proposal should be compatible with the Lancaster local plan. I understand that Lancashire county council are preparing new proposals as part of the local transport plan process. It would be inappropriate to comment further until the Department has received the authority's proposals and considered the scheme in accordance with our major scheme guidance.

Merchant Navy

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the size of the UK merchant marine was by (a) tonnage and (b) number of ships in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The tonnage and number of trading vessels of 500 gt and over registered in the UK at the end of each year between 1994 and 2004 were as follows:
	
		
			 End of year Gross tonnage (Thousand) Deadweight tonnage (Thousand) Number 
		
		
			 1994 3,637 3,889 282 
			 1995 3,729 3,981 271 
			 1996 3,260 3,285 257 
			 1997 2,791 2,381 246 
			 1998 3,051 2,669 257 
			 1999 3,171 2,712 264 
			 2000 4,550 3,730 305 
			 2001 5,006 4,244 317 
			 2002 7,085 6,661 386 
			 2003 9,944 9,808 483 
			 2004 10,221 10,499 486 
		
	
	Note:
	The statistics are taken from Maritime Statistics 2003, published by DfT.

Merchant Navy

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) officers and (b) seamen were serving in the merchant marine in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: Estimates of the number of UK merchant navy officers and ratings are available for 1997 to 2004 only, as follows:
	
		
			  Officers Ratings Total 
		
		
			 1997 (17)14,300 10,800 25,100 
			 1998 (17)13,500 10,800 24,300 
			 1999 13,900 8,900 22,800 
			 2000 15,100 10,300 25,400 
			 2001 12,800 6,400 19,200 
			 2002 14,000 8,900 22,900 
			 2003 16,000 10,500 26,500 
			 2004 15,800 9,600 25,400 
		
	
	(17)Certificated officers only
	Notes:
	1.Officers and ratings estimates comprise deck, engine, technical and hotel/catering grades. Cadets are excluded.
	2.The estimates are taken from UK Seafarer Statistics, published by DfT.

Motorway Noise

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households east of the M1 between junction 10 and junction 11 adversely affected by noise, broken down by decibel levels; and if he will make a statement on the acoustic screening on that stretch of motorway.

Stephen Ladyman: In a report completed in 2000, the Agency's consultants identified 772 properties in an area chiefly concentrated around Junction 11 with noise levels of 68 dB(A) or more. Of this number, 523 properties are located on the eastern side of the M1. The noise level ranges for the properties on the eastern side are as follows.
	
		
			 Noise level range Number of properties 
		
		
			 6870 dB(A) 279 
			 7175 dB(A) 187 
			 7680 dB(A) 51 
			 Over 80 dB(A) 6 
		
	
	In September 2003 the Highways Agency completed the first phase of a scheme to provide acoustic fences on both sides of the M1 at Junction 11 at Luton. Phase 2 began in January 2005 and is due for completion in August 2005.

Night Flights (Heathrow)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many nights there were disruptions or delays sufficient to cause an increase in flights above the scheduled number taking off between 23.30 and 06.00 from London Heathrow in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: The arrangements under which aircraft may be granted dispensations from the night restrictions have applied for many years. They were confirmed as part of the present night restrictions regime at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted announced on 10 June 1999, Official Report, columns 37880. Information on dispensations is given in the following table in the form in which it is held, showing the number granted each season. Some dispensations were for a single additional flight (either landing or take-off) on a particular night while on other occasions several dispensations have been granted on a single night for the same reason, eg delays resulting from widespread and prolonged air traffic disruption. The number of nights where there were 10 or more additional departures is also given.
	
		
			 Night restrictions season(18) Dispensations for delays(19) Dispensations for VIPs/ emergency relief etc(20) Emergencies(21) Nights with 10 or more additional departures 
		
		
			 Summer 2000 163 1 11 3 
			 Winter 200001 136 0 47 3 
			 Summer 2001 129 5 15 2 
			 Winter 200102 100 5 27 4 
			 Summer 2002 164 7 28 2 
			 Winter 200203 230 5 161 4 
			 Summer 2003 44 3 15 1 
			 Winter 200304 62 1 41 2 
			 Summer 2004 40 2 9 2 
			 Winter 200405 0 3 21 0 
		
	
	(18)The season change with the clocks.
	(19)Delays to aircraft which are likely to lead to serious congestion at the aerodrome or serious hardship or suffering to passengers or animals; delays to aircraft resulting from widespread and prolonged disruption of air traffic.
	(20)Dispensations granted by the Secretary of State, mainly where the aircraft is carrying a VIP or cargo intended for emergency relief.
	(21)Emergencies where there is an immediate danger to life or health.

Parking Penalties

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) appeals against parking penalty charge notices and (b) successful appeals there were in each local authority in England in the last five years for which figures are available.

Karen Buck: This information is collected by the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) outside London and by the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PTAS) inside London and published by them in their annual reports. The latest NPAS report is for 2003 and PTAS report is for 200304 and can be downloaded from the following addresses:
	www.parking-appeals.gov.uk/accessible/about/anreport.asp
	www.parkingandtrafficappeals.gov.uk/annualreports.asp

Pensioners (Free Travel)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of providing a free bus pass for pensioners that can be used on all bus services in England.

Karen Buck: Initial analysis suggests the cost could be around 100 million a year on top of the additional funding (350 million in 200607) already being provided.

Pensioners (Free Travel)

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of extending the pensioner free travel scheme to cover journeys by light-rail.

Karen Buck: Initial analysis suggests that it could cost around 15 million per year on top of the additional funding (350 million in 200607) already being provided to cover local bus services.

Public Highways (Expenditure)

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on levels of expenditure on (a) maintenance and (b) repair of public highways by highways authorities between 200304 and 200506.

Karen Buck: For the maintenance of trunk roads, the Government provided 1,060,408 in 200304, 1,062,755 in 200405 and has budgeted 1,186,049 for 200506.
	Through the Local Transport Plan Settlement, the Government provided 610 million for local authority (capital) highway maintenance in 200304, 651 million in 200405 and 660 million in 200506.
	In addition, revenue provision of 2,005 million for 200304, 2,055 million for 200405 and 2,053 million for 200506 has been made to local authorities, for highway maintenance through local authorities' formula for standard spending.
	Funding provided to local authorities for road maintenance is not ring fenced. It is for the authorities themselves to decide upon their spending priorities, across the whole range of services that they provide.

Public Transport

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure public transport vehicles are equipped with forced air ventilation systems.

Alistair Darling: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to him today (UIN 9017).

Public Transport

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the health and safety requirements are for ventilation on public transport; and whether public transport vehicles are required to have forced air ventilation systems installed.

Alistair Darling: Although there are no legal requirements for ventilation on trains under health and safety law, the Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance which recommends that rail operators have on-board ventilation systems that
	'should be capable of providing and maintaining a satisfactory environment throughout the range of foreseeable conditions the train may encounter (including delays and failures)'.
	Buses (other than minibuses) and coaches in public service must provide adequate ventilation for the driver and passengers without the need to open any window. Ventilation may be provided by forced-air systems, such as fans or air-conditioning units, but are not required to be of this type.

Rail Passengers Council

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) procedures and (b) selection criteria he used when making appointments to the Rail Passengers Council.

Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State made the recent 12 member appointments to the new Rail Passengers Council following the procedures set out in the code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies, which is issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). The selection criteria were published as part of the open recruitment process which was regulated by OCPA and validated by an independent assessor.

Rail Passengers Council

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of representation of the interests of passengers in the north-west in the Rail Passengers Council.

Derek Twigg: The new Rail Passengers Council (RPC) is being established as a single, national body covering all of Great Britain. Members have been appointed to represent passengers on this basis, working in partnership with the RPC staff. The selection of members recently appointed to the new RPC provide the balance of skills and experience that will drive forward the work of the new RPC in future and build the organisation's standing and reputation among passengers and the rail industry.

Railways

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train operators have access agreements on the East Coast Main Line.

Derek Twigg: 36 train operators have track access agreements which include rights to operate trains on, or over part of, the East Coast Main Line.

Roads

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Scottishbusiness community on proposals for road pricing.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government will examine the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The Government have made clear the need for a broad consensus on this issue and continues to discuss transport matters with the business community.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A127 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A127 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv)the last period for which figures are available; andwhat the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B)2008 and (C) 2010.

Stephen Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A127 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
	
		
			  AADF (lowest and highest) 
		
		
			 1997 54,00070,000 
			 1999 56,00070,000 
			 2000 55,00062,000 
			 2004 60,00067,000 
		
	
	The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A127 in the same years was as follows:
	
		
			  Capacity 
		
		
			 1997 68,000 
			 1999 68,000 
			 2000 68,000 
			 2004 68,000 
		
	
	For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to The Future of Transport: A network for 2030 White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A13 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A13 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the last period for which figures are available; and what the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B) 2008 and (C)2010.

Stephen Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A13 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
	
		
			  AADF (lowest and highest) 
		
		
			 1997 15,00071,000 
			 1999 15,00074,000 
			 2000 15,00075,000 
			 2004 21,00088,000 
		
	
	The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A13 in the same years was as follows:
	
		
			  Capacity 
		
		
			 1997 59,000 
			 1999 59,000 
			 2000 59,000 
			 2003 58,000 
		
	
	For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to The Future of Transport: A network for 2030 White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.

Safety Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed camera tickets have been challenged in each year since 1997 in (a) England, (b) Essex and (c) Southend; and how many were successful.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not available.

Safety Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is undertaking into accidents around speed camera sites.

Stephen Ladyman: The independent three-year report into the National Safety Camera Programme, published in June 2004, showed a reduction in deaths and serious injuries at camera sites. A fourth year report, reflecting the roll-out of the programme to 35 safety camera partnerships, is in preparation. The Department's 200506 research programme also includes new research into understanding the mechanisms of change in accident occurrence and speed behaviour brought about by speed enforcement by cameras to help improve our understanding of the wider effects of safety cameras.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory instruments have been sponsored by his Department since 1997.

Karen Buck: Lists of all statutory instruments (SIs) from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) have today been placed in the Library. These lists, prepared in alphabetical order by department, detail for each year from 1998 the number and title of each statutory instrument sponsored by the Department. There are separate lists for General and Local SIs. SIs which have been originated by departments but which were also Orders in Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office (PCO).

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many certificates of non-compliance have been issued to companies and groups failing to meet their tonnage tax training obligations; and how many were subsequently cancelled.

Stephen Ladyman: No certificates of non-compliance have been issued.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies or groups have been required to make higher rate payments for failing to meet their obligations since the tonnage tax was introduced.

Stephen Ladyman: Three companies or groups have been required to pay a surcharge on their payments in lieu of training since tonnage tax was introduced.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies have submitted training commitments for his approval since the tonnage tax was introduced.

Stephen Ladyman: 88 company/groups have applied for approval of a training commitment since tonnage tax was introduced.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies have been allowed to make tonnage tax payments in lieu of training; what the total amount of such payments has been; and to whom such payments are made.

Stephen Ladyman: We have approved planned payments in lieu of training (PILOT) for 19 companies/groups. Other companies/groups have paid PILOT because of shortfalls in training against the training commitment, and/or to meet incremental training commitments arising from additional vessels entering their fleets. PILOT payments are made to the Maritime Training Trust (MTT), which is an independent body with members from the Chamber of Shipping and the maritime trade unions. The MTT allocates the monies received to promote UK seafarer training. The total amount of PILOT received by the MTT to date is 3,844,909.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies or groups made returns to him during the tonnage tax regime during the last full year for which figures are available on (a) training provided and (b) payments in lieu of training.

Stephen Ladyman: 66 companies/groups have provided end of period adjustment returns in respect of 200304, which is the last full tonnage tax training commitment year for which figures are available. With a few returns outstanding, a total of 11,090 months of actual training was provided, and 2,420 PILOT payments were due.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum training obligation is for a company or group to qualify for tonnage tax exemption.

Stephen Ladyman: The minimum training obligation is to recruit and train one officer trainee per year for every 15officer posts in the company/group's effective officer complement.

Transport Infrastructure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on (a) road transport infrastructure needs and (b) rail infrastructure needs in (i) Castle Point and (ii) Essex.

Karen Buck: Road transport infrastructure needs of Essex are currently subject to appraisal by the three Essex transport authorities through their local transport plans. Provisional plans for the period 2006 to 2011 are due to be submitted by the end of July. The SRA have completed their regional planning assessment for rail covering the eastern region. They are due to report their findings shortly.

Transport Infrastructure

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others about transport provision in the county of Bedfordshire.

Karen Buck: The Government office for the east of England has met with chief officers at Bedfordshire county council to discuss the importance of transport provision in the county in relation to other services.
	The Government office for the east of England has met a number of times with Bedfordshire county council officers in the last six months to discuss their delivery of local transport schemes and about their forthcoming second local transport plan.

Untaxed Vehicles

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers in (a) Southend, (b) Essex and (c) England and Wales have been convicted of driving without a road-tax licence in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: No figures are available for Southend. The information for Essex and for England and Wales is as follows:
	
		
			  Essex England and Wales, including Essex 
			  Successful prosecutions Out of court settlements Successful prosecutions Out of court settlements 
		
		
			 2000 4,127 3,942 196,134 177,099 
			 2001 4,399 4,179 213,054 179,263 
			 2002 4,092 3,315 222,328 167,747 
			 2003 3,638 3,135 225,549 164,156 
			 2004 3,349 2,275 182,691 97,943 
		
	
	The introduction of continuous registration at the beginning of 2004 gave DVLA the ability to enforce directly from the licensing computer record. As a result an additional 323,554 late licensing penalties were paid in 2004.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the problems with the Child Support Agency computer system to be resolved.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty to Mr. John Cummings, dated 11 July 2005
	In reply to your recent parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the problems with the Child Support Agency computer system to be resolved.
	The Agency has acknowledged that there are problems with the IT system and there are some serious defects. Work to stabilise the system is ongoing and this has already brought about improvements. The Agency is continuing to work with the computer supplier (EDS) to remedy the problems and IT releases were successfully implemented in December 2004 and May 2005 to resolve various system performance issues and build upon the improvements already made.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Child Support Agency's internal audit; and who carries out the agency's internal audit functions.

James Plaskitt: The internal audit of CSA is undertaken by DWP Internal Assurance Services, a corporate team independent of the Agency and who operate in accordance with the Government internal audit standards.
	The internal audit work in respect of CSA is overseen by the CSA Audit Committee which is chaired by an independent non-executive Director who is also a member of the CSA Management Board. The NAO also attend the CSA Audit Committee.
	Internal audit recommendations and the implementation of them by management is reviewed at each Audit Committee meeting.

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will give permission to pension scheme trustees eligible for the financial assistance scheme to start paying some pension to scheme members or widowed spouses of scheme members who (a) are beyond their scheme's pension age, (b) are terminally ill and (c) would qualify for ill health early retirement.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on when and in what circumstances payments should be made from pension schemes to pension scheme members are a matter for the trustees of the scheme, although we would encourage them to start paying pensions as quickly as possible
	The draft financial assistance scheme (FAS) regulations that were laid before Parliament on 22 June and await parliamentary approval, provide for FAS initial payments to be made to eligible scheme members who have reached age 65 but the pension scheme has not completed wind up, and also to those aged under 65 with a terminal illness. These payments which would top up any payments made by the scheme trustees to 60 per cent. of core pension rights would be made as soon as possible after the affected scheme had been assessed as eligible for the FAS.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing times for housing benefit claims are in each (a) London borough, (b) local housing authority in the North East and (c) Pathfinder area, broken down by tenure sector.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Average housing benefit clearance times (calendar days) in local authorities listed; fourth quarter 200405
		
			 31 March 2005 All housing benefit Rent rebate Rent allowance 
		
		
			 Alnwick 35.93 25.24 44.07 
			 Argyll and Bute 35.51 30.87 39.31 
			 Barking 70.02 63.1 82.17 
			 Barnet 35.47 31.24 37.01 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 31.82 23.16 39.81 
			 Bexley 44.71 34.76 46.14 
			 Blackpool 18.48 13.18 19.45 
			 Blyth Valley 24 22.51 25.88 
			 Brent 37.35 32.24 38.93 
			 Brighton and Hove 31.84 28.24 33.41 
			 Bromley 29.62 n/a 29.62 
			 Camden 34.79 30.69 37.99 
			 Castle Morpeth 23.68 19.52 26.94 
			 City of London 25.51 23.7 28.64 
			 Conwy 32.01 29.88 32.68 
			 Coventry 53.61 n/a 53.61 
			 Croydon 32.85 17.52 43.52 
			 Darlington 31.88 25.41 34.81 
			 Derwentside 28.39 25.66 30.83 
			 Durham 29.17 25.13 34.66 
			 Ealing 61.2 59.91 61.86 
			 Easington 36.01 35.86 36.16 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 29.46 22.1 33.78 
			 Edinburgh 43.79 33.32 55.14 
			 Enfield 39.08 32.91 41.83 
			 Gateshead 66.8 66.8 66.8 
			 Greenwich 35.22 31.29 39.39 
			 Guildford 21.01 23.26 19.83 
			 Hackney 78.53 70.52 84.71 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham n/a n/a n/a 
			 Haringey 50.34 38.07 57.31 
			 Harrow 27.3 22.11 28.83 
			 Hartlepool 28.96 18.25 29.07 
			 Havering 32.55 29.54 35.64 
			 Hillingdon 52.37 44.46 56.31 
			 Hounslow 40.74 33.53 45.83 
			 Islington 49.37 54.29 43.88 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 30.01 30.01 30.01 
			 Lambeth 47.11 42.75 51.27 
			 Leeds 64.2 63.2 65.28 
			 Lewisham 32.37 31.21 33.22 
			 Merton 52.38 46.74 54.6 
			 Middlesbrough 36.6 83.73 35.18 
			 Newham 47.24 47.43 47.17 
			 North East Lincoln 36 35.35 36.24 
			 North Tyneside 47.83 47.85 47.8 
			 Norwich 17.71 15.78 19.83 
			 Pembrokeshire 43.08 36.96 47.94 
			 Redbridge 36.16 29.39 38.73 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 39.05 32.58 39.28 
			 Salford n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sedgefield 31.91 29.34 35.96 
			 South Norfolk 31.2 15.45 32.62 
			 South Tyneside 42.64 42.23 43.41 
			 Southwark 39.13 39.13 39.13 
			 St Helens 34.21 n/a 34.21 
			 Sunderland n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sutton 42.07 30.51 47.52 
			 Teesdale 46.94 52.45 44.43 
			 Teignbridge 30.39 21.54 30.61 
			 Tower Hamlets 61.63 62 61.35 
			 Tynedale 21.28 n/a 21.28 
			 Waltham Forest 36.2 31.17 37.71 
			 Wandsworth 52.25 44.43 56.66 
			 Wansbeck 42.36 40.33 44.94 
			 Wear Valley 21.41 17.87 24.26 
			 Wrexham n/a n/a n/a 
			 Wychavon 35.21 21.29 35.43 
			 Wycombe 23.14 21.32 24.06 
			 Wyre 43.74 n/a 43.74 
			 Wyre Forest 28.52 33.63 28.31 
			 York 64.46 44.47 76.71 
		
	
	n/a=not provide by the local authority. In the case of rent rebate figures only not being available, this may be because the local authority has no rent rebate cases.
	Notes:
	1.Rent rebates are made on local authority properties.
	2.Rent allowance is paid on all private rented accommodation, including registered social landlords.
	Source:
	Local authority reported data.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to help existing long-term claimants of incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: All existing claimants of incapacity benefit are offered personal help and support to return to work through a range of jobcentre plus and private and voluntary sector provision such as the new deal for disabled people, work preparation and workstep. Financial incentives which make an eventual return to full-time work more viable are also available through the permitted work rules, benefit run-ons and tax credits.
	Our Pathways to Work pilots offer a sophisticated range of back to work and rehabilitation support. We are expanding the coverage of our compulsory work-focused interview (WFI) regime to existing claimants to make sure they are fully aware and are actively encouraged to take up the help and support on offer. Our proposals for reforming incapacity benefit will build on Pathways to Work to enable as many recipients as possible to realise their own aspirations of a return to work. A Green Paper will be published later this year.

Maternity Grant

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of the maternity grant was for each year between 1995 and 2002.

James Plaskitt: A claim for a Sure Start maternity grant may be made from the 29th week of pregnancy and up to three months after the baby is born, adopted or the subject of a parental order in respect of a surrogate birth. Between 1995 and 26 March 2000, social fund maternity payments were paid at the rate of 100 per child.
	These were gradually replaced by Sure Start maternity grants from 27 March 2000 and were paid at the rate of 200 per child for babies due, born, adopted or the subject of a parental order in respect of a surrogate birth on or after 11 June 2000. This was increased to 300 from 17 September 2000 for babies due, born, adopted or the subject of a parental order in respect of a surrogate birth on or after 3 December 2000.
	From 31 March 2002, the Sure Start maternity grant was increased to 500 per child for babies due, born, adopted or the subject of a parental order in respect of a surrogate birth on or after 16 June 2002.

Medical Assessment Centres

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which towns and villages in Amber Valley claimants attend medical assessment centres in (a) Derby, (b) Chesterfield, (c) Mansfield and (d) Nottingham.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the requested format.
	Information on the postcode areas that make up the Amber Valley constituency, and the medical examination centres that customers from that area would normally travel to for their medical examination, are in the table.
	
		
			 Postcode Medical assessment centre 
		
		
			 NG16 Derby 
			 DE21 Derby 
			 DE5 Derby 
			 DE56 Derby 
			 DE6 Derby 
			 DE7 Derby 
			 DE75 Derby 
			 DE4 Chesterfield 
			 DE55 Chesterfield 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The postcode DE75 falls within the Amber Valley constituency only.
	2.Remaining postcodes cover a number of constituencies, including Amber Valley.
	Source:
	DWP Medical Provision and Contracting Team

Occupational Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he was first contacted by the parliamentary ombudsman in relation to her inquiry into complaints about occupational pensions; and when he completed his submission of evidence to the inquiry.

Stephen Timms: The parliamentary ombudsman wrote formally to my permanent secretary on 16 November 2004 regarding her investigation into complaints about occupational pensions. An initial response was sent on 20 December. The ombudsman's investigation continues and my officials continue to provide any information requested.

Pension Scheme Records

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ask the pensions regulator to instruct trustees of all pension schemes winding up either to keep all records or to forward them to the regulator or his Department.

Stephen Timms: The pensions regulator may by notice in writing require a trustee or manager, professional adviser or employer of an occupational or personal pension scheme to produce any document or provide any other information which is relevant to the exercise of the regulator's functions.
	Legislation requires trustees to keep written records in connection with a scheme winding up. The pensions regulator has the power to see all documents relating to the pension scheme. A person who without reasonable excuse neglects or refuses to provide information or produce a document when required to do so is guilty of an offence.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service (Offensive Language)

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to discourage the use of offensive and obscene language in the civil service.

John Hutton: Departments and agencies make clear to their staff through staff handbooks the standards of behaviour expected of them and the action that might be taken against them if their behaviour does not meet these standards. This will include any circumstances in which the behaviour, action or inaction of individuals significantly disrupts or damages the performance or reputation of the organisation.

Civil Service (Welsh Speakers)

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what review the civil service has undertaken of the (a) numbers and (b) location of Welsh speakers employed by the Government and Government agencies outside Wales.

John Hutton: The numbers of Welsh speakers employed by Government Departments and agencies are not collected centrally. A review of Welsh speaking staff employed outside Wales has not been undertaken.

Civil Service Reform

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received on reforming the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have received a number of representations on reforming the civil service since my appointment. These have focused on the role of the civil service in helping the Government to deliver better public services, covering subjects such as the Government's information technology (IT) strategy to transform public services, better regulation, the involvement of users in public services and the importance of effective leadership development.
	The major programme of civil service reform currently under way addresses each of these issues. The latest position on reform was set out by the head of the home civil service on 20 June in the report, Delivery and Values One Year On.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.

Education Projects (Great Lakes and Horn of Africa)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in education projectsin the (a) Great Lakes and (b) Horn of Africa regions.

Hilary Benn: In Uganda, over the last 10 years we have provided 75 million of direct assistance to the education sector through projects and targeted budget support. The Ugandan Government prefer donors to provide support for the implementation of its Poverty Eradication Action Plan as general budget support and this is now the principal means through which the UK supports the continued expansion of the education sector. In addition, mindful of the continuing insecurity in the north, DFID is supporting UNICEF in funding projects through NGOs that are improving access to basic services, including education.
	The UK is the co-ordinating donor for the education sector in Rwanda. We have supported education, through general budget support, 21 million was released between 2000 and 2003 via an 'education window', and our current Poverty Reduction Budget Support monitors education performance as an indicator of progress. Since 2001 we have targeted 13 million to a programme of capacity building. DFID has also worked with the Ministry of Education, with a particular focus on improving girls' education. We have also supported a number of measures to help reduce public financing on higher education.
	The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces immense challenges. Educationlike every other sectordeteriorated hugely under the impact of conflict over the past decade. The DRC is moving towards its first democratic elections since the 1960s and we hope this will signal a new start in DRC where an elected Government, with the support of the international community, can work to deliver services to the Congolese people. DFID is already providing some assistance to education; we have been supporting the Bank in the development of their Education Investment programme, and we are supporting the NGO Catholic Relief Services in its project in basic education in North Sankuru. More broadly, we are now looking hard at what DFID's most effective long-term role should be, as part of the wider donor community, in supporting the strengthening and expansion of service delivery in the DRC.
	In Sudan, DFID is supporting UNICEF's work in basic education and the international NGO, GOAL'S country wide literacy and livelihoods programme. In the south we are in the process of developing a framework for service delivery which covers health, water and sanitation as well as education, and we are about to launch the second phase of our education and training scholarships scheme, which will be managed by the British Council (1.4 million 200507). Our support for education in the Horn relates mainly to Ethiopia, with a small programme of support in Somalia.
	DFID supports the Government of Ethiopia's Education Sector Development Plan (ESDP), which emphasises primary education, through Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) to the Government of Ethiopia (30 million 200405). The Department works closely with the Ministry of Education and development partners to improve sector dialogue, policies and strategies in education. Gross enrolment rates in primary education have doubled over the last 10 years. In addition, we provide specific technical support in a number of areas (including education management capacity building and HIV/AIDS and education). In particular, we are supporting the Ministry of Education's Teacher Development Programme through a pooled fund with five other bilateral partners. DFID also has a small Innovatory Fund for Education which supports the development and dissemination of innovative practice in education, particularly by NGOs.
	We are playing an active role in the coordination and development of the Somalia education sector with other development partners in Nairobi, including UNESCO, UNICEF, USAID, EU and the private sector. We are supporting UNESCO, Save the Children UK and Africa Educational Trust on projects in Somalia that aim to increase opportunities for girls as well as boys in accessing quality basic education, develop textbooks and establish an examination system.

Gambia

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is Government policy to support an extension to the Hib disease vaccination programme in Gambia beyond 2007.

Gareth Thomas: The Government welcome the recent study, conducted by the World Health Organisation and the Medical Research Council, showing that the routine immunisation of young children against Hib disease, a major cause of meningitis and pneumonia in developing countries, has virtually eliminated the disease in The Gambia. We hope that these results will encourage other countries in sub-Saharan Africa to persevere with their own immunisation efforts.
	Routine Hib vaccination was introduced in The Gambia in 1997 as part of the country's expanded programme of immunisation. No cases of invasive Hib have been detected since 2002. The programme is being supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), to which DFID has contributed since its inception in 2000. The GAVI is providing $3,229,000 for the Hib and Hepatitis vaccination programme for the period 200206 and is currently considering a second phase of support from 2007, taking into account priorities, performance and results, in consultation with the countries concerned. DFID has presently pledged support to the GAVI up to 200708.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member to the response given by the Prime Minister on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

Tibet

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Tibet.

Gareth Thomas: Tibet is one of the poorest provinces in China. DFID is providing 0.5 million per year through Save the Children to meet the costs of programmes on health, sanitation and basic education in Tibet. The FCO also financed several small projects in Tibetan areas of other Chinese provinces over the last year.

United Nations Population Fund

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  who the British representative is on the executive board of the United Nations Population Fund;
	(2)  whether the UK representative on the executive board of the United Nations Population Fund has connections to non-governmental organisations concerned with abortion related issues.

Gareth Thomas: The UK representatives on the executive board of the United Nations Population Fund do not have any connections to non-governmental organisations concerned with abortion related issues. The British representatives on the executive board of the United Nations Population Fund are DFID officials from its United Nations Commonwealth Department (UNCD) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials from the UK mission in New York.

TREASURY

Alcohol/Drugs-related Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in which the primary cause was (a) alcohol and (b) illegal drugs there were in (i)Southend and (ii) Essex in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which the primary cause was (a) alcohol and (b) illegal drugs there were in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in his absence. (10557)
	The most recently available information is for deaths registered in 2004 and deaths occurring in 2003. Relevant figures are only readily available for deaths where the underlying cause was either related to drug poisoning or directly related to alcohol (alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use). It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved.
	Figures for alcohol-related deaths to usual residents of Southend and Essex registered in the years 1995 to 2004 are given in the attached table. ONS compiles a special database to analyse mortality from drug-related poisoning adding more detail than is available on routine annual extracts. This database is compiled using the annual occurrences extract of mortality data. Figures showing deaths related to drug poisoning involving controlled drugs occurring in the years 1994 to 2003, to usual residents of Southend and Essex, are given in the table below. Information on deaths involving illegal drugs is not available, as how the deceased obtained a particular drug is not recorded at death registration.
	It should be noted that the figures on drug-related poisoning are not directly comparable to the figures on alcohol for the following reasons.
	The figures on drugs do not include long-term effects of drug taking, whereas the figures on alcohol include cirrhosis of the liver.
	Deaths from poisoning which involved both drugs and alcohol are coded as due to drug poisoning, in accordance with international rules for coding cause of death.
	The figures on alcohol include only those where the underlying cause was alcohol-related. The figures on specific drugs include any mention of a substance on a death related to drug poisoning.
	
		Number of alcohol-related deaths(22) and deaths from drug-related poisoning(23) involving controlled drugs,(24) Southend and Essex,(25) 1994 to 2004(26)
		
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) Alcohol-related deaths 
			 (i) Southend  12 17 17 16 12 18 19 21 26 24 
			 (ii) Essex  60 82 88 101 95 96 113 102 111 113 
			 (b) Deaths from drug-related poisoning involving controlled drugs 
			 (i) Southend 9 * 8 * 5 5 7 12 5 10  
			 (ii) Essex 19 20 15 29 22 28 35 16 21 17  
		
	
	*Fewer than 5 deaths
	(22)For the years 19952000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes selected to define alcohol-related deaths are listed below:
	291Alcoholic psychoses
	303Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 200104 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were selected:
	F10Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70Alcoholic liver disease
	K73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 514.
	(23)Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5for 1994 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-YJ4 from 2001 onwards.
	(24)Drugs mentioned on the death certificate of a death where the underlying cause was drug poisoning.
	(25)Deaths of usual residents of:
	(i)Southend-on-Sea unitary authority
	(ii)County of Essex
	Data for the county of Essex does not include deaths to residents of the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea or Thurrock.
	(26)Data are for deaths registered in each calendar year for alcohol-related deaths and for deaths occurring in each calendar year for deaths related to drug poisoning.

Bedfordshire (Statistics)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from personal taxation in the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information on revenue raised from personal taxation by parliamentary constituency is not available therefore I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) on 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 940W.

Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department has spent on organising or sponsoring conferences in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Records of the cost of activities such as conferences are not held centrally and so the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Corporation Taxes

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the potential mobility of corporations on the yield of corporation taxes to the Exchequer.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to maintaining a modern, fair and competitive corporation tax system. The UK compares favourably to other major economic partners and tax is only one factor in businesses' location decisions.

Corruption (Procurement)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the definition is of general interest as used by his Department in the draft regulations to implement Article 45 of the EU procurement directive 2004/18/EC; and if he will make a statement on the overriding requirements through which a contracting authority can disregard the duty not to select an economic operator that has been convicted of corruption or bribery as described in that directive.

John Healey: The Government believes that Article 45 of the new procurement directive is very helpful in the fight against fraud and corruption by requiring, for the first time under the EU procurement rules, contracting authorities to exclude suppliers convicted of such offences. At present, such exclusions are voluntary. The article only enables member states to derogate from this requirement for overriding requirements in the general interest, which is designed to cover exceptional circumstances of national emergency, for example related to the protection of life and security. Our proposed guidance on this article will cover these matters and will provide additional advice to authorities on when the derogation should be invoked. This guidance will be informed by the current consultation exercise on the regulations to implement the new directive.

Electoral Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people of voting age were (a) registered to vote and (b) resident in each ward in each constituency in each region in 2001.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning how many people of voting age were (a)registered to vote and (b) resident in each ward in each constituency in each region in 2001.1 am replying in his absence. (10941)
	I have arranged for the data requested to be placed in the House of Commons library.
	Electorate Counts
	The ward electorate counts are for February 2001 parliamentary electors, including attainers (persons attaining the age of 18 after 16 February 2001 but before 16 February 2002). The counts relate to England and Wales only. There are a number of wards which are split by parliamentary constituency i.e. they fall within two or more parliamentary constituencies. The ward electorate and population counts are repeated for each parliamentary constituency which they fall within, and are indicated by an asterisk * alongside their ward name, electorate and population figures for the whole ward are shown. Some wards will therefore be double counted. Split ward electorate and population counts by parliamentary constituency are not available.
	Electoral Wards
	The electorate counts are not necessarily consistent with the statutory electoral register return RPF 29, due to the need for population estimation purposes to use and convert historic electorate counts on different ward geographies to a consistent ward geography i.e. the Census Area Statistics (CAS) ward geography (CAS wards were used for 2001 Census outputs).
	The electorate counts therefore do not necessarily relate to wards which were in existence in February 2001, and some wards which were in existence in February 2001 may have had subsequent boundary changes.
	Population Estimates
	The ward population estimates for persons aged 18 and over relate to mid-2001 i.e. 30 June 2001 and are for CAS wards. Due to their small population size, population estimates for wards in City of London and Isles of Scilly are shown for the local authority areas only. For comparative purposes, the electorate counts for wards within these local authorities have been similarly aggregated.
	Limitations with the data
	The parliamentary electorate excludes European Union citizens and includes overseas electors. The former will be included in the population estimates and the latter excluded. Comparable ward counts of local government electors are not readily available.
	There is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate as electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died. In addition, people can register in more than one place.
	There is a relatively small number of wards (44) where the electorate counts are more than 10 per cent. greater than the population estimate, the majority of such cases are likely to be attributable to a limitation in the methodology used to convert electorate counts from a non-CAS ward geography onto a CAS ward geography. There may however also be valid reasons why the electorate count may exceed the estimated population, as described above.

Flexible Service Delivery Programme

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the implications of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs flexible service delivery programme for employment levels within the Department;
	(2)  what account is being taken of rurality issues within Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs flexible service delivery programme.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings target for 200508. The Department's targets are to reduce the number of its staff by 12,500 net of re-deployments. The Department is also developing its plans to meet its targets under 'Lyons' to move 1,950 posts from London and the South East by 2008 and a further 2,300 by 2010.
	In developing its plans HM Revenue and Customs is assessing and taking account of their potential social and economic impact in the local area.

Fuel Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in fuel duty on those (a) on low incomes and (b) without access to alternative modes of transport;
	(2)  what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of rises in fuel duty on the growth of carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research;
	(3)  what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of the cost of petrol on use of vehicles; and if he will place in the Library copies of such research.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	When taking decisions on fuel duty rates, the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes account of all relevant economic, environmental and social considerations.
	No specific research has been published on the impact of increases of fuel prices on those on low incomes; however, some reports have been published by the Department for Transport analysing the relationship between fuel costs, vehicle use and carbon emissions, which are relevant. These are:
	Review of Income and Price Elasticities in the Demand for Road Traffic by Mark Hanly, Joyce Dargay and Phil Goodwin, UCL, March 2002;
	Development of an Aggregated Transport Forecasting Model (ATFM) by Joyce Dargay, Phil Goodwin and Mark Hanly, UCL, September 2002; and
	Review of income and price elasticities of demand for road traffic by Daniel Graham and Stephen Glaister, Imperial College, July 2002.
	These reports are all available on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk) and copies have been placed in the House.

Green and White Papers

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) Green and (b) White papers his Department has produced since 1997; and if he will list these in date order.

John Healey: A chronological list, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information, of all Command Papers produced by individual Departments since 10 May 2001 has been placed in the Library of the House and is also accessible at www.opsi.gov.uk.
	It is not possible to differentiate between Green papers and White papers. Information prior to May 2001 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Health Expenditure

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the figures for capital expenditure on health in the nations and regions included in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis include those amounts invested through the private finance initiative.

Des Browne: The capital expenditure figures in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis do not include investments through the private finance initiative, except where PFI schemes have been classed as on the public sector balance sheet.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of equipping Revenue and Customs premises with identity card readers.

Dawn Primarolo: No such estimate has been made.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the timing of the Identity Cards Scheme Gateway 1 review was decided; and whether the timing has been revised in the last 12 months.

Des Browne: The Identity Cards Programme is scheduled to have a Gateway 1 review in July 2005. The current dates were agreed with the Home Office in May 2005. There had been a provisional intention to hold the Gateway 1 review in March 2005.

Men:Women Ratio

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the current ratio between men and women is aged (a) 20 to 65 years and (b) 65 years and over; and what the equivalent figures were for (i) 1976 to 1980, (ii) 1981 to 1985, (iii) 1986 to 1990, (iv) 1991 to 1995, (v) 1996 to 2000 and (vi) 2001 to 2004.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the sex ratios for the current year and between 1976 and 2004. I am replying in his absence. (10543)
	The table below shows the average sex ratios of persons in England and Wales aged 65 and over, and of those aged 20 to 64 inclusive, for mid-2003, the latest available year.
	
		Population England and Wales mid-2003
		
			 2003(27) Number/Ratio 
		
		
			 Males 2064 (number) 15,522,600 
			 Females 2064 (number) 15,727,200 
			 Ratio M/F 0.99 
			   
			 Males 65+ (number) 3,606,800 
			 Females 65+ (number) 4,853,900 
			 Ratio M/F 0.74 
		
	
	(27)Mid-2003 population estimates are the latest data available.
	Note:
	Population estimates are shown to the nearest 100 people.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	The attached table gives equivalent data for the years you requested, though 2001 to 2003 is shown, rather than the 2001 to 2004 you requested, as 2003 are the latest available data. Mid-2004 population estimates will be published on 25 August 2005.
	
		Population England and Wales mid-1976 to mid-2003
		
			  Males 2064 Females 2064 Ratio M/F Males 65+ Females 65+ Ratio M/F 
		
		
			 1976 (28)13,686,500 13,779,500  2,772,600 4,346,500  
			 1977 (28)13,706,900 13,794,600  2,817,800 4,396,400  
			 1978 (28)13,728,200 13,815,400  2,863,100 4,452,700  
			 1979 (28)13,779,400 13,840,600  2,907,100 4,502,500  
			 1980 (28)13,835,000 13,892,600  2,950,400 4,555,000  
			 Average population 1976 to 1980 (28)13,747,200 13,824,500 0.99 2,862,200 4,450,600 0.64 
			 1981 13,894,600 13,971,300  2,970,500 4,577,600  
			 1982 13,953,100 14,051,500  2,970,100 4,579,800  
			 1983 14,094,400 14,188,600  2,947,200 4,558,000  
			 1984 14,283,100 14,349,200  2,936,300 4,546,300  
			 1985 14,364,800 14,419,800  3,014,100 4,632,900  
			 Average population 1981 to 1985 14,118,000 14,196,100 0.99 2,967,600 4,578,900 0.65 
			
			 1986 14,435,000 14,503,600  3,071,800 4,695,800  
			 1987 14,511,700 14,583,000  3,123,300 4,742,400  
			 1988 14,587,600 14,662,400  3,157,600 4,774,300  
			 1989 14,673,500 14,750,000  3,192,400 4,804,700  
			 1990 14,758,600 14,828,000  3,217,200 4,815,800  
			 Average population 1986 to 1990 14,593,300 14,665,400 1.00 3,152,500 4,766,600 0.66 
			
			 1991 14,827,600 14,927,900  3,248,100 4,832,200  
			 1992 14,887,200 14,998,700  3,274,900 4,843,000  
			 1993 14,930,000 15,053,200  3,298,600 4,850,500  
			 1994 14,958,100 15,107,300  3,315,400 4,848,200  
			 1995 15,002,700 15,139,800  3,342,400 4,856,400  
			 Average population 1991 to 1995 14,921,100 15,045,400 0.99 3,295,900 4,846,000 0.68 
			
			 1996 15,031,300 15,172,000  3,367,000 4,854,400  
			 1997 15,044,900 15,206,500  3,391,500 4,845,100  
			 1998 15,074,400 15,256,700  3,417,100 4,840,900  
			 1999 15,164,800 15,355,000  3,437,400 4,824,900  
			 2000 15,273,100 15,485,100  3,465,600 4,821,400  
			 Average population 1996 to 2000 15,117,700 15,295,100 0.99 3,415,700 4,837,400 0.71 
			
			 2001 15,376,600 15,579,900  3,509,900 4,831,700  
			 2002 15,446,400 15,655,300  3,557,400 4,842,900  
			 2003 15,522,600 15,727,200  3,606,800 4,853,900  
			 Average population 2001 to 2003 (29)15,448,500 15,654,200 0.99 3,558,000 4,842,800 0.73 
		
	
	(28)Data for 1976 to 1980 may contain small founding errors as it has been aggregated from rounded quinary age group data.
	(29)Mid-2003 population estimates are the latest data available. Mid-2004 population estimates will be published on 25 August 2005.
	Note:
	Population estimates are shown to the nearest 100 people.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

MG Rover

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he met representatives of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation during his visit to China in February; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 4 July 2005
	No. The Chancellor discussed MG Rover with the Chinese Government during his visit to China in February 2005.

Ministers (Tax Treatment)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the income tax treatment of Ministers differs from the tax treatment of individuals receiving comparative pay and emoluments in the private sector,with particular reference to (a) residences and (b) cars.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax rules which apply when someone is provided with accommodation because of his or her office or employment are the same for Government Ministers as for other taxpayers.
	The tax treatment of transport and subsistence for the Speaker, Ministers and Opposition office-holders is covered by specific legislation in section 295 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act.

Ministers (Tax Treatment)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total value was of the imputed rent for tax purposes on official residences provided to Government Ministers in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. However the same general tax rules would be applied as in any other case where living accommodation is provided by an employer.

Ministers (Tax Treatment)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Ministers who have residences provided by the Crown are taxed on the value of those residences on the basis of benefits in kind.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax rules which apply when someone is provided with accommodation because of his or her office or employment are the same for Government Ministers as for other taxpayers.

Occupational Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was first contacted by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in relation to her inquiry into complaints about occupational pensions; and when he completed his submission of evidence to the inquiry.

John Healey: The Parliamentary Ombudsman wrote to the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury on 16 November 2004 to indicate that she would conduct an investigation into complaints she had received relating to occupational pensions. The Permanent Secretary wrote to the Parliamentary Ombudsman on 17 December 2004 in response to those elements of the investigation relating to the Treasury.

Oil Prices

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of oil price changes on items made from by-products of oil.

John Healey: The ONS produce a number of price indices that measure oil price changes and changes in the by-products of oil. These include individual price indices published as constituent parts of the producer prices index, and the retail and consumer price indices, including the by-products of oil. For example, the producer input prices index is disaggregated by commodity group, which separately identifies the changes in crude oil prices, fuel prices, chemical prices and other groupings. All of these published indices are available on the ONS website: www.statistics.gov.uk.

Perinatal/Infant Mortality

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rates of (a) perinatal mortality and (b) infant mortality in each primary care trust were in (i) the Southend area, (ii) Essex and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rates of perinatal mortality and infant mortality in each primary care trust were in (a) the Southend area, (b) Essex and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (10559)
	Information on infant and perinatal mortality is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures for England and Wales, Essex and Southend unitary authority are given in the attached table.
	Figures cannot be provided for primary care trusts because of the risk of disclosing information about individuals as a result of differences between trust and local authority boundaries.
	
		Perinatal and infant mortality rates by selected area, 1999 to 2003.
		
			  England and Wales Essex Southend UA 
		
		
			 Perinatal mortality rate(30) 
			 1999 8.2 6.8 7.0 
			 2000 8.2 6.9 6.9 
			 2001 8.0 5.8 7.8 
			 2002 8.3 8.1 7.9 
			 2003 8.5 6.8 8.3 
			 Infant mortality rate(31) 
			 1999 5.8 4.4 3.5 
			 2000 5.6 3.8 3.2 
			 2001 5.4 4.3 3.2 
			 2002 5.2 4.8 4.2 
			 2003 5.3 4.5 5.2 
		
	
	(30)Per 1,000 live and stillbirths
	(31)Per 1,000 live births
	Source:
	For 1999 to 2001, rates are available in Key Population and Vital Statistics, table 4.2 and for 2002 to 2003 rates are shown intable4.1b. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=539

Petrol Duty

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of duty was on a litre of unleaded petrol in each month since 1997.

John Healey: Duty rates for all hydrocarbon oil products, including unleaded petrol, since 1997 are available on the Revenue and Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk.

Public Sector Spectrum

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made in assessing the potential to release public sector spectrum to the market; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Chancellor announced an independent audit of spectrum holdingsfocusing on the public sectorin his pre-Budget report in 2004. The audit is being carried out by Professor Martin Cave, who intends to publish a consultation paper on emerging issues before delivering his final report ahead of the 2005 pre-Budget report.

Random Audits

Quentin Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-assessing taxpayers were selected for random audits in the 200405 financial year; how many such audits were carried out; what the cost was; and what their yield was in terms of (a) unpaid tax and (b) penalties received by HM Revenue and Customs.

Dawn Primarolo: In the tax year 200405 the Inland Revenue (now part of HM Revenue and Customs) selected 6,482 Income Tax Self Assessment taxpayers for random enquiry. 401 Corporation Tax Self Assessment taxpayers were selected for random enquiry in the same year. The deadline for opening these enquiries has not yet passed. Therefore no figures are available to show how many of these inquiries have been carried out. It is also too early to determine what yield these inquiries will produce.

Revenue and Customs

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the business plan for meeting Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs efficiency savings for 2005 to 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: Further to the written answer I gave the hon. Gentleman on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 191W, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings for 200508.
	Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise (now HMRC) did publish a joint Efficiency Technical Note last October which set out how the efficiency savings would be achieved and measured.
	The Efficiency Technical Note is published on HMRC's internet site.

Road Pricing

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the estimated revenues for the lorry road user charging project are; and what proportion of the estimated revenues for the project are expected to come from each part of the UK;
	(2)  when he expects the lorry road user charging scheme to become operational in the UK;
	(3)  what discussions have taken place between his Department and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs about lorry road user charging; and what the outcome was of those discussions.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 171.

Tax Avoidance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disclosures of (a) direct tax and (b) VAT avoidance schemes have been made under the 2004 rules; and how many promoters of such schemes have made disclosures.

Dawn Primarolo: There have been 524 disclosures for direct tax and 787 for VAT up to 30 June 2005. The number of promoters who made disclosures in that period is 102. These figures attest to the success of the disclosure rules.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) what his estimate is of the time needed to resolve the problems identified in the Ombudsman's report in the administration of tax credits; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will write off all excess and overpaid tax credits caused by official error in (1) 200304 and (b) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the statements I made to the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 23WS and 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 801.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to ask Revenue and Customs to contact everyone who has been overpaid tax credits as a result of official error to inform them that that was the reason for the overpayment; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 23WS on tax credits.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the accuracy levels for processing tax credit claims were in each year since 200001; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Accuracy levels for processing working families' tax credit and disabled person's tax credit applications in 200102 and 200203 can be found in the Board's Annual Reports for those years.
	Similarly, performance against the accuracy target for processing new tax credits claims for 200304 was published in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2004. These reports are available on the internet at:
	http://www.hmr.gov.uk/about/reports.htm.
	Indicative results for the Department's performance for 200405 can be found in HMRC spring departmental report 2005 at the aforementioned link.

Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the calculation of overpayments of tax credit takes into account (a) pension contributions and (b) charitable contributions; and whether this information is routinely requested by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before sending out calculations of overpayment;
	(2)  whether information on (a) pension contributions and (b) charitable contributions is routinely requested in the calculation of tax credits; and what percentage of tax credit claimants provided such information in the last period for which information is available.

Dawn Primarolo: Pension contributions and charitable contributions are both taken into account in calculating tax credit awards, as are Gift Aid, trading losses and non-taxable expenses.
	In both the tax credits claim form and accompanying guidance notes, claimants are advised to obtain a working sheet (TC825) to help them calculate the deductions they can make against the family's gross income on which their tax credit award is assessed.
	Claimants are given the same advice in their renewals form and accompanying guidance, which is sent out at the end of the tax year.
	No data are available on numbers who make such deductions.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the advice given by (a) the Inland Revenue to the Government and (b) EDS to the Inland Revenue about system problems relating to the introduction of the new tax credits between June 2002 and May 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Advice provided by the Inland Revenue to Ministers during this period drew on information and guidance provided by EDS. HMRC are in ongoing discussions with EDS about compensation for the system problems that arose and if these discussions do not lead to an acceptable offer the department will commence legal proceedings. In the circumstances, any advice provided to Ministers has to remain confidential.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what comparison he has made of error rates for payments of the (a) working families tax credit and (b) the child and working tax credits; how the error rates compare with those forecast by the Department in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, and (iii) 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC are currently undertaking a programme of work on finalised 200304 awardsthe first year of working tax credit and child tax creditto provide more information on the level of claimant error and fraud. child and working tax credits (CTC/WTC) are very different in scale and scope compared to their predecessors, working families' tax credit (WFTC) and disabled persons tax credit (DPTC) because of the annual nature of awards and because they are designed to react to any changes in personal circumstances during the period of an award. Also, significantly more families benefit from them, including a large proportion that are only receiving the family element. These fundamental differences do not lend themselves to direct comparison.

Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many open days have been held by the Inland Revenue in the last 12 months for staff and volunteers of independent advice services providing assistance to tax credit claimants; how many people have attended such open days; and if he will make a statement on (a) feedback received and (b) resultant action.

Dawn Primarolo: Between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005 Tax Credit Office attended 151 events around the country. The events were attended by around 3,600 people from the voluntary and community sector (VCS).
	(a) An average 90 per cent. of attendees rated the events as good or excellent.
	(b) TCO representatives undertake to answer separately any advisers' questions that could not be answered immediately at the event. They also report back any points that have arisen to colleagues as appropriate, in case any further follow up action may be required.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to delay the transfer of the families who currently receive their child tax credit through Jobcentre Plus, but whose awards are due to be transferred to HM Revenue and Customs in 200506.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my statement of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 805.

Travel Concessions

David Clelland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will abolish the taxation applied to employer-provided travel concessions.

Dawn Primarolo: Employees who receive free or cheap travel concessions from their employer, for themselves or members of their families, will generally be taxable on the benefit by reference to the cost to the employer. We have no plans to change this.

VAT

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to harmonise the VAT imposed on new builds and renovated properties.

Dawn Primarolo: While agreements with our European partners allow us to keep our zero rates as they currently stand, we cannot extend them or introduce new ones. This means that in order to harmonise the rates of VAT on all building work and renovation, we would first have to give up our current zero rates for construction, including those for the construction of new charity buildings and new housing, and for approved alterations to listed buildings. While we continue to keep the impact of VAT on different types of building work under review, we have no plans to give up our existing construction zero rates.

Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many young people are not in employment, education or training, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of each age group, in descending order grouped by region for the last year in which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recentparliamentary question asking how many young people are not in employment, education or training, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority (i) in total and (ii) a percentage of each age group, in descending order grouped by region for the last year in which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (10384)
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library, tables showing the numbers of people aged 16 to 24 not in employment, or in full-time education or government training for each constituency and local authority in Great Britain, during the 12 months ending February 2004. Estimates for similar areas in Northern Ireland are not available.
	These estimates, based on annual local area Labour Force Survey, depend on small sample numbers and are therefore subject to relatively large sampling errors. The comparisons between the percentages for different areas (quoted in tables 2 and 4) should be treated with particular caution.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business and Industry Skills

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the supply of science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills for young people for business and industry.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department and DfES are working closely together to ensure that the skills which business and industry require are those which are delivered in schools and through the sector skills councils. For example the 1419 White Paper (DfES) recognised the need to do more to increase the appreciation among tomorrow's citizens of the contribution that science and technology make towards our way of life; and also to increase the numbers who leave school equipped to pursue careers using skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
	The DTIs key focus is on the informal side of science education. We are supporting SETNET, the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths Network, for the next three years with funding in excess of 10 million. SETNET co-ordinates a UK-wide network of some 50SETPOINTS and also the Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme (SEAs) which provides a framework within which people, working in science and technology environments can be trained to go into schools and act as role models to help teachers convey the excitement of careers using STEM skills.

Crche Facilities

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what crche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost to (a) the Department and (b) employees in 200405.

Alan Johnson: DTI staff in central London have access to a 32 place holiday play scheme in our 1Victoria Street building which is highly rated by both parents and children for its quality. DTI HQ staff in Cardiff have access to a local holiday play-scheme.
	London-based DTI staff also have access to six full-time subsidized nursery places for under 5's, currently occupied by five children. DTI plans to end the contract in December 2005 and to introduce a Salary Sacrifice scheme that will benefit more parents, enabling them to make savings on their child care fees. Costs for (a) the department is 63,214 (b) employees the holiday play scheme costs 14.00 per place towards the 31.00 daily fee, and nursery places cost 118 per week.

Cut and Sew Contract

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions officials of his Department have had with the Ministry of Defence about the cut and sew contract.

Alun Michael: My officials have discussed the cut and sew contract with the Ministry of Defence and understand the contract fully complies with the requirements of EU procurement guidelines, UK Defence Industrial Policy and MOD's Supplier Base Optimisation Programme.

European Charter for Researchers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on UK plans to implement the European Charter for Researchers.

Malcolm Wicks: It is for individual institutions to decide whether they wish to subscribe to the European Charter for Researchers, which draws heavily upon UK practice. The UK presidency of the European Union will in addition be hosting an international conference on 8 and 9 September at which the Charter and its practical implementation will be discussed. The Charter will also influence on-going work on a possible revision to the Concordat for the Management of Research Staff in UK Universities and Colleges.

Export Control and Non-Proliferation Directorate

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the Report by ASE Consulting into privatising the Export Control and Non-Proliferation Directorate; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have placed in the Libraries of the House copy of the Report recently released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A few extracts have been withheld under Section 43 of the Act.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports have been published by the Measurement Advisory Committee in each year since 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: Annual reports have been published for 200102, 200203 and 200304. These are all available for download from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/nms/mac/ The report for 200405 is currently being prepared.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) remuneration and (b) expenses are received by members of the Measurement Advisory Committee.

Malcolm Wicks: Members of the Measurement Advisory Committee receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence while on Committee business. This is the only remuneration they receive.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the terms of reference of the Measurement Advisory Committee are; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The objective of the Measurement Advisory Committee is to offer the Department of Trade and Industry strategic advice on:
	the effectiveness with which the NMS (National Measurement System) supports innovation and competitiveness within UK business and industry; the priorities the Department should assign to programmes of work undertaken to meet the needs of the NMS;
	the broad objectives, balance and strategy for UK Government support of measurement.
	These objectives are achieved by advising on:
	the needs of users in business, industry and the community;
	priorities for funding;
	the effectiveness of steps to ensure that good value is achieved from investment in NMS programmes and that the right balance is struck between measurement research and the needs of all users;
	the effectiveness of steps to secure greater engagement with business and industry and improve dissemination of the results of investment in NMS;
	commercial opportunities resulting from the research and development carried out by contractors, in support of the NMS;
	input to the Department's longer forward looks;
	key priorities for the UK measurement system within a European and global context.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total (a) running costs and (b) expenditure of the Measurement Advisory Committee have been in each year since 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	(a) Running costs
	DTI provides secretariat support for the Committee. The Committee does not have a budget or staff.
	
		(b) Expenditure: Travel and subsistence
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200102 50 
			 200203 66 
			 200304 66 
			 200405 100 
		
	
	Note:
	Covers expenditure on 18 working groups which support the Committee

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the current work programme of the Measurement Advisory Committee is.

Malcolm Wicks: The work programme of the Measurement Advisory Committee will be established when the recently appointed Chairman, and four new members, first meet the rest of the Committee in October. The focus of the meeting will be on the review of the National Measurement System which is currently being carried out within the Department of Trade and Industry.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the criteria for membership of the Measurement Advisory Committee is; and how its members are selected.

Malcolm Wicks: The criteria for membership of the Measurement Advisory Committee is an active interest in, and the ability to comment authoritatively on, current and future measurement needs.
	Members are recruited through open competition in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidelines.

Measurement Advisory Committee

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Measurement Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The current review of the National Measurement System is considering, among other things, appropriate advisory structures for the NMS.

Miners' Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 20 medical companies who have received the most in fees under the Miners Compensation Scheme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger since 1999, broken down by amount received.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The medical companies who have received fees under the Miners Compensations Schemes are as follows.
	
		
			  Company Total approximate fees paid to date ( million) 
		
		
			 Healthcall 120 
			 SEMA/ATOS 180 
			 Capita Health Solutions 2

Miners' Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place between his Department and IRISC in relation to eliminating fraud under the Miners' Compensation Scheme since 1990.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	Detection of potentially fraudulent claims has formed part of the Department's claims handlers' role since the schemes began in 1999. A process for managing the risk of fraud is in place and the Department holds regular discussions with the claims handlers on the issue.

Miners' Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what training has been provided for officials on avoiding fraud under the Miners' Compensation Scheme in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	Officials receive work-based training and guidance from external lawyers and consultants and the Department's own lawyers on fraud management on an ongoing basis.

Miners' Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the top 20 solicitors in terms of (a) fees paid, (b) claims registered and (c) claims outstanding for (i) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (ii) vibration white finger deceased claims under the Miners' Compensation Scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The top 20 solicitors in each of the categories is as follows:
	
		(a)(i) Fees for handling deceased COPD claims --  million
		
			 Solicitor Fee 
		
		
			 Thompsons 35.5 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 31.3 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 28.3 
			 Raleys Solicitors 21.9 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 16.9 
			 Browell Smith and Co 13.7 
			 Graysons 6.6 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 6.0 
			 Watson Burton 5.6 
			 The Legal Warehouse 5.4 
			 Irwin Mitchell 5.4 
			 Wake Smith 5.3 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 4.8 
			 Towells Solicitors 4.6 
			 Moss Solicitors 3.4 
			 O. H. Parsons 2.9 
			 Birchall Blackburn 2.7 
			 Corries 2.3 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 2.1 
			 Barber and Co 2.0 
		
	
	
		(a)(ii) Fees for handling deceased VWF claims -- 000
		
			 Solicitor Fee 
		
		
			 Thompsons 1,147.9 
			 Browell Smith and Co 549.0 
			 Raleys Solicitors 497.8 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 369.7 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 336.2 
			 Graysons 269.6 
			 Watson Burton 186.5 
			 Moss Solicitors 109.3 
			 Irwin Mitchell 106.8 
			 Towells Solicitors 103.6 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 96.4 
			 AMS Law 86.0 
			 Atteys 72.5 
			 O. H. Parsons 68.4 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 67.4 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 55.9 
			 Corries 33.9 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 19.3 
			 Gorman Hamilton Solicitors 15.4 
			 Simpson Millar Solicitors 11.4 
		
	
	
		(b)(i) Deceased COPD claims registered
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Beresfords Solicitors 50,929 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 36,176 
			 Thompsons 32,922 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 23,974 
			 Raleys Solicitors 23,690 
			 Avalon 19,506 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 16,163 
			 Barber and Co. 9,991 
			 Corries 6,785 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 6,641 
			 Delta Legal 6,401 
			 Birchall Blackburn 5,784 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 5,559 
			 Watson Burton 5,234 
			 BRM Solicitors 4,939 
			 AMS Law 4,903 
			 The Legal Warehouse 4,643 
			 Graysons 4,248 
			 Irwin Mitchell 3,922 
			 Wake Smith 3,865 
		
	
	
		(b)(ii) Deceased VWF claims registered
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Thompsons 3,361 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 2,784 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 2,567 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 1,730 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 1,528 
			 Graysons 1,187 
			 Raleys Solicitors 1,173 
			 Towells Solicitors 973 
			 Moss Solicitors 780 
			 AMS Law 744 
			 Watson Burton 601 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 318 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkin and Martin 314 
			 The Legal Warehouse 290 
			 Irwin Mitchell 276 
			 Atteys 263 
			 O. H. Parsons 220 
			 Corries 118 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 111 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 84 
		
	
	
		(c)(i) Deceased COPD claims outstanding
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Beresfords Solicitors 38,965 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 24,628 
			 Thompsons 20,018 
			 Avalon 18,330 
			 Raleys Solicitors 15,109 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 11,179 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 10,246 
			 Barber and Co. 8,184 
			 Delta Legal 5,802 
			 Corries 5,504 
			 Birchall Blackburn 4,513 
			 BRM Solicitors 4,366 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 3,941 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 3,530 
			 AMS Law 3,323 
			 Hilary Meredith Solicitors 2,431 
			 The Legal Warehouse 2,419 
			 Watson Burton 2,284 
			 1 Legal Solicitors 2,061 
			 Recompense Ltd. 1,708 
		
	
	
		(c)(ii) Deceased VWF claims outstanding
		
			 Solicitor Number 
		
		
			 Thompsons 2,153 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 973 
			 Graysons 888 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 824 
			 Hugh James Ford Simey 791 
			 Towells Solicitors 519 
			 Raleys Solicitors 436 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 413 
			 Moss Solicitors 344 
			 Randell Lloyd Jenkins and Martin 167 
			 The Legal Warehouse 155 
			 Irwin Mitchell 116 
			 Atteys 112 
			 Kidd and Spoor Harper Solicitors 97 
			 Corries 62 
			 Shaw and Co. Solicitors 62 
			 O. H. Parsons 58 
			 Ingrams Solicitors 25

Miners' Compensation Scheme

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role Ministers had in the decision to allow the Union of Democratic Mineworkers to process compensation claims directly under the coal health schemes.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Following the judgments against British Coal in both the vibration white finger and respiratory disease litigations, the High Court ordered the DTI to set up schemes, in agreement with miners' solicitors, to assess compensation for both types of claim. Claims had by then been registered through the Claimants Solicitors Group (the CSG), some of which were sponsored by the main mining unions, the NUM and NACODS. The UDM had also registered a large number of claims directly on behalf of their members, through their dedicated claims handling company, Vendside Ltd. The CSG and the UDM were unable to work together or enter into single arrangements for historical reasons. Ministers agreed the DTI would negotiate the strategy with the UDM and Vendside in which the terms for compensation are the same as for the agreement with the CSG.

Petrol Prices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to reduce the price of petrol.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI closely monitors petrol price changes within the market, which recently have reflected high international oil prices.
	While it is Government policy not to intervene in commercial price setting, because they believe that the consumer is best served by open competition between companies within the UK downstream oil sector, they do recognise the impact that high petroleum prices can have on various sectors. As a result they have acted by announcing that due to sustained volatility in the oil market the Government will not go ahead with the planned inflation increase on 1 Septemberincluding for rebated oils, biofuels and road fuel gasesand will review the position again at the time of the pre-Budget report.
	The Government are also supporting efforts to improve stability in the international oil market by promoting greater market transparency and understanding, and encouraging greater investment throughout the global oil supply chain.

Petrol Prices

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average price per litre of (a) unleaded petrol and (b) leaded petrol was in (i) Great Britain and (ii) the United States, together with the amount of tax paid per litre in each case, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: Data are only available for unleaded petrol (95 RON specification) and for the United Kingdom not Great Britain. Prices in pence per litre are given as follows.
	
		Pence/litre
		
			  Prices in the United Kingdom Prices in the United States 
			  Including taxes Total tax Excluding taxes Including taxes Total tax Excluding taxes 
		
		
			 2000 79.93 60.32 19.60 29.56 6.66 22.89 
			 2001 75.72 57.68 18.04 30.42 7.01 23.40 
			 2002 73.24 56.73 16.51 27.51 6.76 20.75 
			 2003 76.04 57.47 18.58 28.72 6.24 22.49 
			 2004 80.22 59.05 21.18 29.78 5.63 24.15 
		
	
	Source:
	International Energy Agency, Energy Prices and Taxes, Q1 2005.

Public Telephone Boxes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public telephone boxes are in use.

Alun Michael: The regulation of telephone boxes is a matter for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). I understand from Ofcom that there are currently approximately 68,000 public telephone boxes in the UK.

Pyramid Selling Schemes

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons his Department has continued to use the Companies Acts and the Insolvency Act 2000 to wind up companies operating pyramid selling schemes following the introduction of the Trading Schemes Act 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Trading Schemes Act 1996+ and the Trading Schemes Regulations 1997 provide civil sanctions for breach of their provisions and the Fair Trading Act 1973 provides criminal sanctions. However, neither Act nor the regulations provide a power to wind up a scheme which is operating against the public interest. When there are grounds to suspect that a company is operating a scheme in breach of the regulations the company may be investigated under Part XIV of the Companies Act 1985 and, if the investigation findings point to the need to do so, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may present a petition in the public interest for the winding up of the company under section 124A of the Insolvency Act 1986. It is for the court to decide whether or not a winding up order should be made.

Renewable Energy Schemes

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will extend support and incentives available to renewable energy producers to include carbon capture and abatement schemes.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	We are currently examining the potential for economic incentives for the deployment of carbon capture and storage and other carbon abatement technologies in the Climate Change Programme Review as announced by the Chancellor in his Budget Statement this year. We expect to report on our findings in the autumn.

Renewable Energy Schemes

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase funds available to support the development of carbon capture and abatement technologies in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 7 July 2005
	I have recently announced some 25 million to support the demonstration of carbon capture and storage and other carbon abatement technologies. This is new money and in addition to the 6 million per year allocated under the 2004 spending round.

Wind Farms

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the energy mix wind power contributes to UK energy supply; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2004 onshore and offshore wind together accounted for 0.49 per cent. of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom, up from 0.32 per cent. in 2003. In terms of primary energy supply the percentages were smaller at 0.07 per cent. in 2004 up from 0.05 per cent. in 2003.
	In total in 2004 renewable sources accounted for 3.58 per cent. of the electricity generated in the UK (up from 2.67 per cent. in 2003) and 1.54 per cent. of energy supply in primary energy input terms (up from 1.32 per cent. in 2003).

HEALTH

Delivering Race Equality

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken towards the improvement of services for older people specified in Delivering Race Equality.

Liam Byrne: Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care (DRE) was published in January 2005. It is a five-year action plan for tackling discrimination and improving services for black and minority ethnic (BME) patients.
	DRE was preceded in 2001 by the national service framework (NSF) for older people. Standard seven of the NSF is clear that older people from BME communities need appropriate and accessible mental health services. DRE recognises that older people from BME communities can face additional barriers to appropriate and effective mental health services. It also recognised that further action was needed for standard seven of the NSF to be implemented fully.
	The Department's national clinical directors for older people's services and mental health services, Professors Ian Philp and Louis Appleby, will shortly launch a vision for the future of older people's mental health. This will outline the key components of a model service and build on the service developments that the NSF and DRE have initiated.
	A number of focused implementation sites for DRE are being established. These sites will help to develop best practice in mental health care for BME communities, including older people, that can be disseminated across the country.

Accident and Emergency Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those attending accident and emergency departments were not registered with a GP in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS region.

Liam Byrne: The data are not collected centrally by the Department.

Agency Staff

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the number of agency staff working in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: We have a well established work force strategy based on recruiting and retaining a high quality national health service work force. As part of this strategy, we recognise the need to use a flexible pool of staff through NHS banks or private agencies. We expect these staff to be of good quality and for the NHS to get value for money. To ensure that this is the case, we have developed agency framework agreements through our Purchasing and Supplies Agency and have established NHS Professionals as a special health authority. These are playing a significant part in securing the appropriate and effective use of agency staff.
	According to a recent independent report, agency spending fell for the first time in recent memory in 200304 and improvements were led by a reduction of 65 million in spend on agency nurses.

Agency Staff

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to reduce the NHS's use of agency and bank nurses.

Liam Byrne: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr.Hoyle) today.

Alcohol-related Illness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people (a) under the age of 18 and (b) over the age of 18 were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by region.

Caroline Flint: The table shows how many people under the age of 18 and over the age of 18 were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems in each of the years for which data are availablefrom 199697 onwardsbroken down by region.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes for selected(32) alcohol related diseases by strategic health authority (SHA) of residence and age groupingnational health service hospitals, England 199697 to 200304
		
			   199697 199798 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 108 713 149 876 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 139 526 159 677 
			 Q03 Essex HA 69 672 55 771 
			 Q04 North West London HA 56 1,008 51 1,432 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 65 761 43 901 
			 Q06 North East London HA 56 851 45 946 
			 Q07 South East London HA 69 926 71 1,286 
			 Q08 South West London HA 100 762 94 765 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 226 1,513 238 1,236 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 257 959 282 1,014 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 144 928 108 537 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 228 1,351 225 1,411 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 252 2,259 261 2,148 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 271 2,766 278 2,470 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 356 2,983 332 3,085 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 69 858 86 935 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 97 1,118 107 1,141 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 115 806 123 597 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 159 1,530 168 1,475 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 127 1,184 119 1,211 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 123 943 148 1,045 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 76 908 92 726 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 153 761 126 868 
			 Q24 Trent HA 193 1,848 245 1,647 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 94 667 117 672 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 155 1,035 182 1,227 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 169 2,047 208 2,106 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 170 1,388 182 1,294 
			 S Scotland 2 21 4 19 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified 3 330 9 414 
			 W Wales 17 91 17 125 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 6 38 4 34 
			 Y Unknown 49 1,176 93 1,934 
			 Z Northern Ireland  13  6 
			 Total 4,173 35,740 4,421 37,031 
		
	
	
		
			   199899 19992000 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 115 1,061 143 1,133 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 148 712 158 734 
			 Q03 Essex HA 47 681 58 783 
			 Q04 North West London HA 45 1,528 50 1,124 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 28 893 52 901 
			 Q06 North East London HA 47 974 53 1,056 
			 Q07 South East London HA 48 1,198 71 1,360 
			 Q08 South West London HA 79 713 87 876 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 195 1,640 198 1,690 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 213 1,083 239 1,102 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 198 1,331 253 1,414 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 206 1,254 237 1,376 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 221 1,942 313 1,811 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 251 2,291 290 2,309 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 296 2,955 319 2,961 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 100 866 111 854 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 117 1,361 138 1,328 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 119 597 127 676 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 167 1,417 207 1,244 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 149 1,200 124 1,234 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 107 926 137 966 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 95 737 90 935 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 148 887 170 869 
			 Q24 Trent HA 202 2,011 259 2,068 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 114 851 126 788 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 141 1,102 169 1,048 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 203 1,861 281 1,866 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 173 1,133 199 1,231 
			 S Scotland 2 24 6 38 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified 8 499   
			 W Wales 17 116 25 218 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 9 36 13 43 
			 Y Unknown 18 570 35 1,016 
			 Z Northern Ireland  15  8 
			 Total 4,026 36,465 4,738 37,060 
		
	
	
		
			   200001 200102 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 144 1,133 130 1,135 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 122 629 176 687 
			 Q03 Essex HA 61 768 43 761 
			 Q04 North West London HA 54 955 61 1,106 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 49 814 44 807 
			 Q06 North East London HA 30 889 52 977 
			 Q07 South East London HA 53 1,113 47 1,017 
			 Q08 South West London HA 102 850 115 761 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 219 1,567 172 1,486 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 241 1,066 183 1,079 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 221 1,232 224 1,246 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 168 1,509 192 1,509 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 294 1,823 288 2,168 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 342 2,301 285 2,311 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 314 3,156 315 3,459 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 69 913 129 954 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 133 1,315 119 1,290 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 99 665 151 650 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 235 1,260 295 1,256 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 122 1,017 144 1,094 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 110 1,114 110 1,152 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 98 731 97 712 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 139 951 103 831 
			 Q24 Trent HA 232 2,006 251 1,875 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 98 768 91 652 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 135 950 148 1,002 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 267 1,842 247 1,908 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 194 1,107 142 1,026 
			 S Scotland 4 29 2 35 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified 5 495 7 529 
			 W Wales 16 84 23 111 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 10 44 6 47 
			 Y Unknown 32 500 42 558 
			 Z Northern Ireland  7  6 
			 Total 4,412 35,603 4,434 36,197 
		
	
	
		
			   200203 200304 
			 SHA of residence Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over Aged under 18 Aged 18 and over 
		
		
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 115 1,208 144 1,338 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 148 707 133 815 
			 Q03 Essex HA 52 779 64 981 
			 Q04 North West London HA 60 1,204 86 1,423 
			 Q05 North Central London HA 59 874 62 906 
			 Q06 North East London HA 64 1,036 86 1,157 
			 Q07 South East London HA 62 1,289 88 1,392 
			 Q08 South West London HA 129 863 135 1,049 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 159 1,510 117 1,533 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 123 929 142 1,225 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 170 1,209 252 1,292 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire HA 204 1,484 186 1,539 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 273 2,023 250 2,054 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester HA 271 2,162 344 2,522 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 323 3,517 349 3,771 
			 Q16 Thames Valley HA 89 975 116 1,063 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 151 1,405 181 1,307 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway HA 116 734 145 766 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex HA 253 1,496 266 1,543 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 126 1,107 170 1,230 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula HA 128 1,218 198 1,292 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset HA 85 660 85 730 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire HA 89 957 100 1,146 
			 Q24 Trent HA 211 1,832 218 2,060 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 84 853 92 1,111 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire Ha 138 1,097 176 1,276 
			 Q27 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 185 1,978 237 2,113 
			 Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and  Worcestershire HA 143 1,181 152 1,135 
			 S Scotland 6 24 6 47 
			 U Englandnot otherwise specified 8 553 17 705 
			 W Wales 18 89 12 104 
			 X Foreign (incl. Isle of Man and Channel Islands) 10 47 9 61 
			 Y Unknown 27 445 29 417 
			 Z Northern Ireland  8  19 
			 Total 4,079 37,453 4,647 41,122 
		
	
	(32)Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis
	F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, K70 Alcoholic liver disease, T51 Toxic effect of alcohol
	Notes:
	1.A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3.Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Alcohol-related Illness

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) binge drinking and (b) other alcohol-related emergency cases there were in hospitals in (i)England and (ii) Southend in the last period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Data are not collected that could distinguish binge drinking from other alcohol related emergency admissions. The following table shows a count of finished admission episodes for alcohol related cases where the method of admission was emergency in 200304.
	
		200304
		
			 Primary diagnosis Southend hospital national health service trust England 
		
		
			 F10 mental and behavioural disorder  due to use of alcohol 57 26,049 
			 K70 alcohol liver disease 54 9,251 
			 T51 toxic effect of alcohol 11 1,451 
			 Total 122 36,751 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Ambulance Service

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which ambulance trusts have trained their staff in the use of clot-busting drugs.

Liam Byrne: 28 ambulance service trusts have trained their paramedics in the use of clot-busting or thrombolytic drugs. These are:
	Avon
	Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
	Coventry and Warwickshire
	Cumbria
	Dorset
	East Anglia
	East Midlands
	Essex
	Gloucestershire
	Hampshire
	Hereford and Worcestershire
	Isle of Wight (service to commence shortly, training has taken place)
	Kent
	Lancashire
	Lincolnshire
	Mersey Regional
	North East
	Oxfordshire
	Royal Berkshire
	Staffordshire
	Surrey
	Sussex
	Tees, East and North Yorkshire
	Two Shires
	West Midlands (only in Shropshire)
	West Country
	Wiltshire
	West Yorkshire Metropolitan
	London Ambulance Service is involved in piloting primary angioplasty services, an alternative treatment for heart attack requiring a similar level of skill and training by paramedics.
	Greater Manchester Ambulance Service is using a fast track scheme for all patients thought to be suffering from heart attack to ensure rapid transfer to hospital for these patients. South Yorkshire Ambulance Service is piloting a similar scheme to Greater Manchester.

Ambulance Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances are on call in Lancashire (a) on weekdays, (b) at weekends, (c) between 10 pm and 6am during the week, (d) between 10 pm and 6 am on (i) Friday, (ii) Saturday and (iii) Sunday nights; and how many are stationed in Chorley constituency.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available centrally and can be obtained from the Lancashire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust.

Anti-psychotic Drugs

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse reaction reports were received through the yellow card reporting system for (a) all anti-psychotic drugs, (b) traditional anti-psychotic drugs and (c) atypical anti-psychotic drugs in each of the last five years; and how many prescriptions there were for each type of drug in each year.

Jane Kennedy: Table 1 shows the total number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the yellow card scheme from 1 January to 31 December for each of the last five years, for all anti-psychotic drugs, traditional anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics.
	
		Table 1: Number of reports received via the yellow card scheme for anti-psychotics
		
			  Number of reports for all anti-psychotics Number of reports for traditional anti-psychotics Number of reports for atypical anti-psychotics 
		
		
			 2000 1,000 100 913 
			 2001 1,189 105 1,097 
			 2002 1,395 90 1,316 
			 2003 1,774 115 1,680 
			 2004 2,004 78 1,933 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The sum of reports for traditional and atypical anti-psychotics do not equal the number of reports for all anti-psychotics because, although each report refers to one patient, some reports have more than one suspected anti-psychotic drug as the patient is taking several drugs.
	2.It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships, including the possibility that the timing of the suspected reaction may be coincidental with the patient taking the drug, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.
	Table 2 shows the total number of prescriptions for all anti-psychotic drugs, traditional anti-psychotics and atypical anti-psychotics over the last five years supplied by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA).
	
		Table 2: Number of prescription items dispensed in the community for traditional and atypical anti-psychotics (for prescriptions dispensed in England) -- Thousand
		
			  Number of prescriptions for all anti-psychotics Number of prescriptions for traditional anti-psychotics Number of prescriptions for atypical anti-psychotics 
		
		
			 2000 4,939.7 3,790.3 1,149.5 
			 2001 4,718.0 2,876.0 1,842.0 
			 2002 4,978.5 2,507.2 2,471.3 
			 2003 5,335.0 2,251.3 3,083.7 
			 2004 5,521.4 2,196.5 3,324.9 
		
	
	Note:
	The data does not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. Anti-psychotics are commonly dispensed within hospital pharmacies.

Breastfeeding

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget provision she has made in her Department for supporting breastfeeding in (a) the 200506 financial year and (b) the 200607 financial year.

Caroline Flint: The Government are committed to increasing support for breastfeeding and has identified approximately 2 million for activities related to Healthy Start and breastfeeding, including national breastfeeding awareness week and a new national breastfeeding helpline. The five yearly national infant feeding survey to be conducted later this year will be funded separately. Primary care trusts are responsible for funding local breastfeeding support. The funding for financial year 200607 has yet to be agreed.

Cardiac Care (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained medical (a) doctors and (b) nurses specialising in cardiac care there are in Southend hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: There are eight cardiologists at Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust.
	The number of cardiac care nurses is not held centrally. However, as at September 2004, which are the latest figures available, there were 1,119 qualified nurses at Southend Hospital.

Cardiac Care (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cardiac-related emergency cases have beentreated in hospitals in Southend in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The number of emergency, finished admission episodes of cardiac care in Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust and, as it was known prior to 199899, Southend Health Care NHS Trust, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Finished admission episodes 
		
		
			 199798 87 
			 199899 124 
			 19992000 210 
			 200001 232 
			 200102 247 
			 200203 269 
			 200304 254 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is, the data are ungrossed.
	3.The main operation is the first recorded operation in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, eg time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	Source:
	HES: Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Clostridium Difficile

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to prevent the spread of Clostridium difficile in hospitals in England.

Jane Kennedy: Our programme to control healthcare associated infection in England, including those due to Clostridium difficile, is set out in the Department's publications, Winning Ways: Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England (December 2003) and Towards cleaner hospitals and lower rates of infection (July 2004). Specific measures will include incorporating high standard infection control procedures; appropriate antibiotic prescribing; and appropriate contingency, for example, appropriate disinfection or isolation, if an outbreak occurs.

Connecting for Health

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions have been issued by Connecting for Health to suppliers to develop stand alone versions of their application which are not reliant on the NHS data spine; and for what reasons.

Liam Byrne: None. Contracts governing service levels for the data spine require a very taxing standard of guaranteed availability on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis. Suppliers are required to develop highly reliable and resilient systems to meet these service levels. Earlier this year, suppliers were asked to consider the impact for their systems and services of the data spine being unavailable temporarily, but there are no current plans to progress this to an instruction to develop stand-alone systems.

Conscientious Objection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to paragraphs 3.11 to 3.16 of the Twelfth Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 200304, relating to conscientious objection; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Parliament will debate the issues raised in the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill on 10 October and the Government will listen carefully to this debate.

Consultants' Contract

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has fully funded the NHS for the costs its has incurred from implementing the consultants' contract; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: We have invested substantial resourcessome 250 million extra by 200506for the new consultant contract, which rewards those national health service consultants who do the most for the NHS and aims to secure real changes in the way patient care is delivered.
	This funding, based on the methodology agreed with the British Medical Association during negotiations, was allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) in December 2002 as part of main allocations. The amount that went to main allocations was 0.3 per cent. 200304, 0.4 per cent. in 200405 and 0.5 per cent. in 200506.
	We uplifted the provider tariff for 200506 to take account of any potential cost pressures, although our national survey subsequently demonstrated that the cost pressures anticipated by trusts were not being realised. The imperative remains for trusts to ensure that all consultants have job plans that reflect the current needs of patients and the service in line with local delivery plans.

Category A Patients (Mortality Statistics)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of Category A patients were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by ambulance trust.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to increase the provision of dentistry services in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The eight primary care trusts (PCTs) in Hertfordshire have received 1.03 million in capital grants in 200405 and 446,000 revenue access money in 200405. This additional funding has already delivered growth equivalent to 5.5 whole time dentists and delivered in excess of 10,000 additional patient registrations in Hertfordshire.
	Through local recruitment activity, Dacorum PCT now employs three dentists from overseas and North Hertfordshire and Stevenage PCT employs two.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat orthodontic treatment is available on the NHS; and what the charges are for each type of treatment.

Rosie Winterton: Full details of dental treatment available on the national health service are set out in the statement of dental remuneration (SDR), which details the availability of all NHS treatment and the fees payable by patients. A copy of the SDR has been placed in the Library. As with all NHS dental treatment, orthodontic treatment is free for children.

Dentistry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve NHS dentistry in the Southend area.

Rosie Winterton: In 200405, the Department allocated 1.5 million to the Essex strategic health authority to improve access, choice and quality in national health service dentistry. Of this sum, Southend primary care trust (PCT) received 220,000. The PCT aims to create additional capacity of 23,400 places as a result. The PCT has a dental action plan in place which includes a range of measures to increase capacity and extend existing services, and has already negotiated two personal dental service contracts which has created an additional 13,000 patient registrations. The PCT has also recruited three Polish dentists as part of the Department's international recruitment scheme, with a fourth due to start later this month.

Dentistry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists undertaking NHS work there are in (a) Essex and (b) Southend Primary Care Trust; and if she will list the practices which are taking new patients.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of dentists in Essex and Southend Primary Care Trust (PCT).
	Information about dentists taking on new national health service patients is not collected centrally. However, information can be obtained from local PCTs or from NHS Direct.
	
		General dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS)number of dentists in the specified areas as at 31 March 2005
		
			  All dentists 
		
		
			 Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 628 
			 of which:  
			 Southend-on-Sea PCT 61 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures given by PCT and SHA include all dentists practising in that area. Some dentists may have an open GDS or PDS contract in more than one PCT or SHA and therefore they have been counted more than once.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Disability Equality Training

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that all NHS staff receive disability equality training; how many trusts provide such training; and how many strategic health authorities monitor the availability of such training in their area.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 9 June 2005
	The responsibility for diversity awareness training, which includes disability equality, lies with each national health service employer. We recommended in Improving Working Lives Practice Plus that NHS employers provide employees with diversity awareness training. All NHS employers are expected to conform to Improving Working Lives human resources practice by March 2006. General practitioner practices and foundation trusts, however, are not covered by these requirements. Compliance data are not held centrally.

Doctor Numbers

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) general practitioners, (b) consultants, (c) junior doctors, (d) staff grade and (e) associate specialists were employed in NHS hospitals in (i) West Sussex, (ii) Surrey, (iii) Durham, (iv) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (v) each strategic health authority in each of the last eight years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library. Between 1997 and 2004 in England, consultants increased by 43 per cent.; associate specialists by 70 per cent.; staff grade by 114 per cent.; doctors in training or equivalents by 38 per cent, and general practitioners by 16 per cent.

Domiciliary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the stages in the registration of domiciliary care providers are; and what standard is required at each stage.

Liam Byrne: The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is responsible for registering domiciliary care agencies in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards. Information about registration is found on the application pack R1 and AppendixA3, both of which are available from CSCI at www.csci.org.uk.

Domiciliary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) England and (b) each region have (i) met and (ii) not met the required standard at each stage in the registration of domiciliary care providers.

Liam Byrne: I understand from the chair for the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that, in 200405, the CSCI registered 2,118 domiciliary care agencies, making a total of 4,091 registered as at 31 March 2005.
	A total of 17 registrations for domiciliary care agencies were refused in 200405.
	The regional analysis is shown in the table.
	
		Domiciliary care homes registered with CSCI in 200405
		
			 Region Number registered 
		
		
			 East Midlands 232 
			 Eastern 341 
			 London 319 
			 North East 58 
			 North West 309 
			 South East 282 
			 South West 163 
			 West Midlands 292 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 122 
			 Grand total 2,118 
		
	
	Source:
	CAiRE, New to registration and new to regulation applications, 1 July 2005.
	
		Domiciliary care homes refused registration by with CSCI in 200405
		
			 Region Number refused application 
		
		
			 Eastern 2 
			 London 6 
			 North West 3 
			 South East 1 
			 South West 1 
			 West Midlands 3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 1 
			 Grand total 17 
		
	
	Source:
	CAiRE, 1 July 2005.

Carers Equal Opportunities Act

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what mechanisms she is developing with the National Assembly for Wales Government to assess andshare good practice in the implementation of the Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004 in England and Wales;
	(2)  when the policy and practice guidance on the implementation of the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004 will be issued.

Liam Byrne: The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is currently working on a web-based practice guidance to link with Departmental policy guidance. As SCIE covers England and Wales, this material will be relevant to both countries.
	The Department hopes to publish the policy guidance for the Carers' Equal Opportunities Act 2004 by the end of July 2005. SCIE plans to produce the practice guidance and to publish it online in September 2005.

Carers Equal Opportunities Act

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms will be put in place to assess the impact of the Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004.

Liam Byrne: The number of carers receiving assessments is increasing year-on-year. From 200405, new data will be collected on the outcomes of carer's assessments as well as the number of assessments. However, there are currently no specific plans to monitor precisely what service a carer receives as a result of their assessment.

Euthanasia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from (a) doctors and (b) nurses in support of (i) assisted suicide and (ii)voluntary euthanasia.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has received regular correspondence over the last year on assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia expressing a range of views and opinions. Correspondents do not necessarily include details of their profession.

Food Poisoning (West Midlands)

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning there have been in each local authority in the west midlands in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: The number of notified cases of food poisoning in each local authority in the west midlands in each of the last 10 years is shown in Table 1.
	Total notifications for the west midlands have shown a decrease since 1997.
	Notified cases of food poisoning are not considered to be a reliable indicator of food-borne disease, due to considerable under-reporting. Very few notified cases will be based on evidence supporting a suspected association with food.
	The Health Protection Agency has estimated that, in 2000, there may have been as many as 1.3 million cases of food-borne disease acquired in England and Wales, of which around 370,000 consulted a doctor 1 . In that year, only 86,528 cases of food poisoning were notified in England and Wales.
	The annual totals of laboratory-confirmed cases of Campylobacter and Salmonella in the west midlands in the years 19952004 are shown in Table 2.
	1 Adak G. K. Long S. M. O'Brien S. J. Gut 2002; 51:832841.
	
		Table 1: Notifications of food poisoning from the west midlands region(33)(5508010034)
		
			 Local authority name 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005(35) Total 
		
		
			 Birmingham 1,121 2,105 2,073 1,888 1,775 1,604 1,354 1,244 1,233 518 1,4915 
			 Bridgnorth 143 151 129 125 126 120 88 96 119 39 1,136 
			 Bromsgrove 68 107 109 96 101 91 70 72 105 36 855 
			 Cannock Chase 20 35 23 24 34 60 158 147 144 50 695 
			 Coventry 419 368 461 434 322 406 505 412 441 144 3,912 
			 Dudley 1,200 1,003 941 876 832 616 551 495 462 171 7,147 
			 East Staffordshire 84 107 86 166 162 121 91 138 97 42 1,094 
			 Hereford 51 70 121 
			 Hereford UA   357 312 459 202 118 185 205 58 1,896 
			 Leominster 53 64 117 
			 Lichfield 125 185 159 200 173 153 147 137 80 41 1,400 
			 Malvern Hills 267 304 224 204 227 199 166 182 184 60 2,017 
			 Newcastle under Lyme 161 176 143 151 167 173 149 159 129 47 1,455 
			 North Shropshire 162 185 120 153 147 142 116 111 85 31 1,252 
			 North Warwickshire 96 118 164 141 130 136 98 75 79 30 1,067 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth 88 140 142 115 145 152 113 137 140 72 1,244 
			 Oswestry 89 69 75 71 60 52 49 70 40 24 599 
			 Redditch 93 83 58 76 67 53 56 50 79 17 632 
			 Rugby 43 82 112 88 79 78 111 122 127 20 862 
			 Sandwell 332 365 259 234 378 222 203 242 231 85 2,551 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 221 220 246 194 224 214 157 180 165 49 1,870 
			 Solihull 353 551 519 382 517 484 348 342 275 109 3,880 
			 South Herefordshire 50 98 148 
			 South Shropshire 137 116 65 86 114 102 70 83 93 39 905 
			 South Staffordshire 131 165 166 184 269 314 223 222 146 59 1,879 
			 Stafford 263 328 309 273 236 266 227 237 203 79 2,421 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 27 30 19 126 165 139 115 106 105 40 872 
			 Stoke on Trent 435  435 
			 Stoke on Trent UA  403 361 367 399 451 319 333 308 97 3,038 
			 Stratford on Avon 63 158 201 212 222 222 232 187 219 87 1,803 
			 Tarn worth 81 71 80 75 110 71 82 61 54 20 705 
			 Telford and Wrekin UA   227 231 272 296 228 203 245 95 1,797 
			 The Wrekin 286 335 621 
			 Walsall 288 345 351 303 322 280 203 214 190 87 2,583 
			 Warwick 54 152 167 159 186 214 161 178 183 58 1,512 
			 Wolverhampton 461 502 590 412 416 426 361 318 224 101 3,811 
			 Worcester 247 229 322 301 271 253 206 241 207 57 2,334 
			 Wychavon 198 203 204 207 216 184 150 204 165 65 1,796 
			 Wyre Forest 155 160 171 212 197 231 171 223 180 79 1,779 
			 Total 8,065 9,783 9,633 9,078 9,520 8,727 7,396 7,406 6,942 2,606 79,156 
		
	
	(33)Data gaps are due to changes in the boundaries and re-organisation of some local and unitary authorities in 1997 and 1998.
	(34)The data presented in the table represent the number of cases notified in each area. The figures have not been adjusted for population.
	(35)Provisional data, for weeks 01/2005 to 24/2005 only.
	Source:
	Notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDS)29/06/2005.
	
		Table 2: Laboratory-reported cases of campylobacter and salmonella in the west midlands region, 19952004
		
			 Region: west midlands Campylobacter Salmonella(37) 
		
		
			 1995 4,528 2,723 
			 1996 5,152 2,762 
			 1997 6,087 2,693 
			 1998 6,540 1,923 
			 1999 6,384 1,505 
			 2000 7,408 1,296 
			 2001 6,621 1,325 
			 2002 5,621 1,033 
			 2003 5,347 1,122 
			 2004(36) 4,902 1,120 
		
	
	(36)Provisional data (may be subject to further change).
	(37)From Health Protection Agency Salmonella dataset
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency centre for infections, environmental and enteric diseases department, England and Wales.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow many full-time equivalent general medical practitioners there were in each primary care trust in London on average in (a) 1997, (b) 2001 and (c) 2004, broken down by (i) single handed and (ii) two or more partner general practitioner practices; and what percentage these practices represented of the total number of general practitioner practices in each year.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners are practising in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex; and what the size of the patient list at each practice is.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 July 2005
	The number general practitioners, GP practices, number of patients and average list size providing services to the residents of South Woodham Ferrers are shown in the table.
	
		Average list size of general medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars(38), and GP practices for specified organisations -- As at 30 September 2004Number (headcount)
		
			 Primary care trust All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(38) Patients Average list size GP practices 
		
		
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford 78 143,284 1,837 20 
			 Castle Point and Rochford 91 175,019 1,923 27 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford 47 81,460 1,733 15 
		
	
	(38)General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others, and personal medical service (PMS) others.
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

General Practitioners

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there have been in the Southend primary care trust area in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of general practitioners in the Southend area, with information for Southend on Sea primary care group (PCG) for 1999 and 2000 and then for its successor organisation, Southend on Sea primary care trust (PCT) for 2001 to 2004.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(39) for specified organisations: 19992004 -- Numbers (headcount)
		
			   1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (40)2004 
		
		
			 4KH89 Southend On Sea PCG 84 84 (41) (41) (41) (41) (41) 
			 5AK Southend On Sea PCT (41) (41) 82 79 87 111 103 
		
	
	(39) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others and personal medical service (PMS) others. Prior to September 2004 this group included GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(40)As at December
	(41)Denotes data not applicable
	Note:
	Data as at 1 October 19992000, 30 September 200104 and 31 December 2004.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

General Social Care Council

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the General Social Care Council measures the impact of its codes of practice on (a) the recruitment of social workers and (b) service users.

Liam Byrne: Information on the impact of the General Social Care Council's (GSCC) codes of practice on the recruitment of social workers is not collected centrally.
	The GSCC conducted a major consultation on the impact of the codes on the social care sector as a wholein 2004. The results of this exercise and other information from the sector suggests that the codes are highly valued by the workforce, are being used in practice, are having a positive effect for service users and are seen as part of everyday activity.
	The GSCC is planning further research on the codes of practice and how they are being embedded and the impact on service users.

General Social Care Council

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate (a) her Department and (b) the General Social Care Council has made of the number of (i) domiciliary care workers, (ii) outreach workers, (iii)residential child workers, (iv) social care managers and (v) staff responsible for recruitment and supervision of social care staff who would be covered by future requirements for registration with the General Social Care Council.

Liam Byrne: There are an estimated 1.4 million social care workers in England, around a quarter of these are people working in domiciliary care.
	Detailed information on the number of social care workers is collected by Skills for Care in relation to adultservices and by the Children, Young People and Families Workforce Development Council (CWDC) in relation to children's services.
	During 2004, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) carried out a widespread consultation about the order in which the remaining groups of social care staff should be brought into registration. I am considering their report of the outcome of this consultation in the context of the continuing development of our social care policies following the publication of the social care Green Papers, Independence, well-being and choice and Every Child Matters. I expect to announce my decision shortly.
	The GSCC will then work closely with Skills for Care and CWDC in preparing for registration of the new groups in the social care work force in light of information about the numbers in each category.

Healthcare and Associated Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 104W, on healthcare and associated infections, what the terms of reference are for the work referred to; what funding is planned for it; and when (a) the confidential study and (b) the qualitative study is expected (i) to start, (ii) to be completed and submitted to Ministers and (iii) published.

Jane Kennedy: The terms of reference are:
	A national audit of deaths from healthcare associated infections will be established and will investigate a proportion of the deaths that occur, to identify avoidable factors and lessons to be learned from them.
	A sum of 450,000 was allocated from 1 April 2005 for two years. The six month pilot phase of the confidential qualitative study is about to start and an interim report is expected next year. The main phase will be completed in the following 18 months and a report will be submitted to the Department and published at the end of the study. The quantitative study will be undertaken over the same period.

Healthcare and Associated Infections

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will introduce legislation to combat healthcare-associated infection; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: pursuant to the reply, 7 July 2005, Official Report C.579W
	I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read as follows:
	We will be publishing on Friday 15 July a consultation document that sets out detailed proposals for tackling healthcare-associated infections, as outlined in the Gracious Speech. Copies will be available in the Library, and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations/fs/en.

Healthcare Commission

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been referred to the Healthcare Commission in each month since July 2004; and in respect of how many complaints the Healthcare Commission has (a) commenced and (b) concluded its inquiries.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the chair of the Healthcare Commission that the number of requests for an independent review of complaints received, up to and including 30 June 2005, is as shown in the table.
	
		
			  Complaints received Complaints resolved (concluded) Complaints where investigation has commenced 
		
		
			 2004
			 August 1,057 752 305 
			 September 736 443 293 
			 October 619 284 335 
			 November 694 325 369 
			 December 527 226 301 
			 
			 2005
			 January 623 272 351 
			 February 654 193 461 
			 March 776 186 590 
			 April 648 104 544 
			 May 590 21 569 
			 June 637 12 625 
			 Total 7,561 2,818 4,743

Hepatitis C

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people in the Burton constituency infected with hepatitis C; how many people in the constituency have been diagnosed with hepatitis C; and how many people in the constituency were treated for hepatitis C in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Human Embryos (Research)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the three additional purposes for which human embryos may be used in research as contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 give effect to the recommendations of the joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission and Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority report Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine that regulations should add the purposes of developing methods of therapy for mitochondrial disease and therapy for diseased or damaged tissues or organs.

Jane Kennedy: Following the report from the Chief Medical Officer's expert group reviewing the potential of developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement to benefit human health 1 , the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 were introduced. They extended the purposes for which the Human Fertilisation Embryology Agency (HFEA) may grant licenses for research involving embryos to include increasing knowledge about the development of embryos, or about serious disease, and enabling any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease.
	The HFEA may only grant licences for research projects if it appears that the activity is necessary or desirable for one or more of the research purposes listed in the Act, as extended by regulations, and the use of human embryos is necessary for the purposes of the research. Licence applications for research projects involving embryos for the purposes of developing methods of therapy for mitochondrial disease and therapy for diseased or damaged tissues or organs are considered in accordance with this procedure. The question of whether something is a serious disease is in the first instance for an HFEA licensing committee, and ultimately for the courts to decide.
	The Government announced on 21 January 2004 their intention to undertake a review of the provisions ofthe HFEA to ensure that it remains effective in the 21st century. This will include a full public consultation exercise in 2005.
	1 Stem Cell Research: Medical Progress with Responsibility, Department of Health, July 2000.

Liver Transplants

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for a liver transplant.

Rosie Winterton: The average waiting time for a liver transplant is 60 days for adults and 69 days for children.

Malaria

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with malaria in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority area in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital trust.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures given do not relate to the number of people diagnosed with malaria, but the number of admitted care episodes in national health service hospitals where malaria was the primary diagnosis. Numbers lower than five have been suppressed for reasons of patient confidentiality.
	
		Count of finished admission episodes, strategic health authority of residenceHampshire and Isle of Wight. Primary diagnosismalaria (ICD-10=between B50-B54), NHS hospitals, England, 19992000 to 200304
		
			  Strategic health authority Number 
		
		
			 19992000 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust (42) 
			 RD3 Poole hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust 7 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RNZ Salisbury healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RPR Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (42) 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			
			 200001   
			 RDE Essex Rivers healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust 21 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 13 
			 RHS Southampton community health services NHS Trust (42) 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 15 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust 7 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			
			 200102   
			 RA2 Royal Surrey county hospital NHS Trust (42) 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42) 
			 RDZ Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 13 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 10 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust 6 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RPR Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (42) 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			
			 200203   
			 RD7 Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospital (42) 
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42) 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 6 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 8 
			 RM2 South Manchester university hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RN5 North Hampshire hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RR2 Isle Of Wight healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RRV University college London hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
			 RTH Oxford Radcliffe hospital NHS Trust (42) 
			
			 200304   
			 RDU Frimley Park hospital NHS Trust (42) 
			 RHM Southampton university hospitals NHS Trust 8 
			 RHU Portsmouth hospitals NHS Trust 11 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh healthcare NHS Trust (42) 
			 RTE Gloucestershire hospitals NHS Trust (42) 
		
	
	(42)For reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed.
	Notes:
	1.A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3.Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	4.Malaria defined as one of the ICD-10 codes in the primary diagnosis:
	B50 Plasmodium falciparum malaria
	B51 Plasmodium vivax malaria
	B52 Plasmodium malariae malaria
	B53 Other parasitologically confirmed malaria
	B54 Unspecified malaria
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capital budget of the Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust is for (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708; and how much of this money is (i) allocated to programmes and (ii)unallocated.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 July 2005
	Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust's (PCT) allocations are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Budget allocation ( million) 
		
		
			 200506 70.6 
			 200607 84.7 
			 200708 94.4 
		
	
	It is for the PCT to decide how it spends the money allocated.

Medical Centres (Attendance)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many attendances at (a) walk-in centres and (b) minor injuries units there were in each quarter since September 2002.

Liam Byrne: Data on the total number of visits to national health service walk-in centres is shown in the table. Data on minor injury units are published in the Chief Executive's Report to the NHSStatistical SupplementMay 2005.
	
		Total number of visits to NHS walk-in centres
		
			 Period Number of visits 
		
		
			 October to December 2002 332,586 
			 January to March 2003 335,358 
			 April to June 2003 391,940 
			 July to September 2003 412,829 
			 October to December 2003 387,570 
			 January to March 2004 389,784 
			 April to June 2004 477,667 
			 July to September 2004 503,144 
			 October to December 2004 516,406 
			 January to March 2005 571,305 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health

Medical Students

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of students on medical courses offered by institutions outside the UK who undertook their clinical training in England in each of the last five years; and what assessment she has made of the proportion who subsequently worked in the NHS after qualification.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Medical Students

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of male to female first year medical students has been in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number and gender of English medical school intake, 199798 to 200405(43)
		
			   Male Female Ratio 
			 Academic year Total Number Percentage Number Percentage Male: Female 
		
		
			 199798 3,749 1,697 45.3 2,052 54.7 1:1.209 
			 199899 3,735 1,690 45.25 2,045 54.75 1:1.210 
			 19992000 3,972 1,748 44.0 2,224 56.0 1:1.272 
			 200001 4,300 1,826 42.5 2,474 57.5 1:1.355 
			 200102 4,713 1,959 41.5 2,754 58.4 1:1.406 
			 200203 5,277 2,123 40.2 3,152 59.7 1:1.485 
			 200304 6,082 2,418 39.8 3,664 60.2 1:1.515 
			 200405(43) 6,326 2,528 40.0 3,798 60.0 1:1.502 
		
	
	(43)These figures are provisional until November 2005, when the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will provide confirmed figures.
	Source:
	HEFCE.
	Latest figures show that, in 200405, the intake of medical school students in England had risen by 69 per cent. since 1997.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency does not break down the 'No established link to device' category causes of medical device-related adverse incidents.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Adverse Incident Annual Report (DB2005(02)) includes a summary of information relating to the approximately 9,000 medical device related adverse incident reports received each year. The MHRA's adverse incident database holds detailed information on each of those incidents. MHRA staff using the database may select from 139 different categories and sub-categories when specifying incident causes. It would not be practical to provide this level of detail in the summary document, so these categories are grouped together under high level headings.

Mental Health (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical doctors there have been in mental health facilities in the Southend, West constituency in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally by constituency. However, the number of medical staff at mental health trusts who provide care in Essex from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS): medical staff within mental health trusts in Essex Strategic Health Authorityas at 30 September each year -- Number (headcount) and full time equivalents
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			  Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte 
		
		
			 Mental Health Trust Medical Staff 242 205 220 191 222 198 182 164 
			 of which: 
			 Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust 76 63 68 57 63 54 25 23 
			 Mid Essex Community and Mental Health NHS Trust 31 25 28 24 29 24 24 21 
			 New Possibilities NHS Trust 17 10 16 10 14 8 17 11 
			 North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust 42 38 40 35 40 37 40 37 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Essex Mental Health and Community Care  NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 76 72 
			 Southend Community Care NHS Trust 38 36 35 34 36 35 n/a n/a 
			 Thameside Community Health Care NHS Trust 38 33 33 30 40 38 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
			  Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte Number Fte 
		
		
			 Mental Health Trust Medical Staff 158 144 173 165 176 170 184 173 
			 of which: 
			 Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Mid Essex Community and Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 New Possibilities NHS Trust 15 12 14 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 North East Essex Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 71 62 81 79 89 84 93 85 
			 South Essex Mental Health and Community Care  NHS Trust 72 70 78 76 87 86 91 89 
			 Southend Community Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Thameside Community Health Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a=not applicable
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce statistics.

Misuse of Records

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties are laid down for misuse of records by (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) agency NHS employees with access to patient records.

Liam Byrne: There are no centrally laid down penalties for the misuse of patient records, as ensuring that records are managed to appropriate standards is a responsibility of each individual national health service organisation. However, departmental guidance, set out in Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice, published in November 2003, makes it clear that misuse of patient information should be treated as a serious disciplinary matter, possibly resulting in legal proceedings.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time has been for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to issue guidance on cancer treatments once they have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in each year since 2000.

Jane Kennedy: It would be not possible to provide an average yearly figure that was in any way meaningful, given that many of the cancer drugs National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has appraised were licensed some years, as much as six years in some cases, before the formation of NICE.

National NHS Database

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision will be made for NHS patients wishing not to have their data recorded on the proposed national NHS database.

Liam Byrne: For national health service patients wishing not to have their data recorded electronically within the NHS care records service (CRS), provision will be made to exercise their rights as provided by section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998. This requires NHS data controllers to cease processing data, where the processing is causing or is likely to cause substantial damage or distress, where that damage or distress would be unwarranted, the processing is not necessary for compliance with legal obligations and is not necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject.
	Procedures to give effect to these rights in respect of records held electronically within the CRS are being developed by the Department, in consultation with organisations representing the interests of patients and health professionals.

New Hospital (Maldon)

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a site has been identified for the construction of the new hospital in Maldon, Essex; and what the latest date is on which she expects the hospital to open.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 July 2005
	A potential site has been identified, but technical legal issues are delaying the purchase and at present it is not possible to say when it will be completed. A wide range of factors can affect the speed of progress of a new hospital build, but experience from other similarly sized schemes indicated that it will take about 48 months to complete the hospital from when the initial approval in principle to proceed is given. In this case, initial approval cannot be given until the site is in the ownership of the national health service.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the study into the most appropriate organisational form for NHS Direct outlined in the Department's Implementation Framework for Reconfiguring the DH Arm's Length Bodies, published on 30 November 2004, is complete; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The further appraisal into the most appropriate organisational form for NHS Direct is expected to be completed this summer.

NHS Finance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health within what period she expects an NHS trust which is in deficit to bring its budget into balance.

Liam Byrne: National health service trusts have a responsibility to break even each and every year. It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance. As long as SHAs can deliver overall financial balance across their organisations, they can agree a plan for individual organisations that phases the recovery of deficits over several years.

NHS Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been allocated to hospitals in Southend in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: National health service trusts do not receive funding as such as services are commissioned by primary care trusts. However, the income figures for Southend hospital NHS Trust are shown in the following table.
	
		Southend hospital NHS Trust total income -- 000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 199798 84,509 
			 199899 93,139 
			 19992000 107,598 
			 200001 112,589 
			 200102 125,771 
			 200203 137,778 
			 200304 150,235 
		
	
	Note:
	NHS trusts do not normally receive funding direct from the Department, but receive income for service provision largely from health authorities and primary care trusts. Figures above show the total income of the trust, including all income from activities and all other operating income.
	Sources:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the Southend hospital NHS Trust 199798 to 200304.

NHS Finance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of population in Southend, West constituency has been in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to provide expenditure on individual constituencies. The expenditure per head on health in South Essex health authority (HA), 199799, and the Essex strategic health authority (SHA), 19992004, geographical areas, of which Southend, West constituency is a part, is shown in the following table.
	
		 per head
		
			  South Essex HA area Essex SHA area 
		
		
			 199798 568.75 n/a 
			 199899 636.27 n/a 
			 19992000 722.78 n/a 
			 200001 806.50 n/a 
			 200102 832.87 n/a 
			 200203 n/a 850.90 
			 200304 n/a 1,034.95 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Expenditure is taken from audited health authority summarisation forms and primary care trust (PCT) summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.
	2.Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of HAs and PCTs.
	3.Figures for 199798 to 200102 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. Figures for 200203 and 200304 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	4.In many HAs, there are factors which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the HA acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in national health service trusts being funded through HAs or PCTs.
	5.The majority of general dental services expenditure is separately accounted for by the Dental Practice Board. An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority. Total expenditure on these items by the Dental Practice Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority cannot be allocated to individual health bodies. Therefore, the total expenditure in the answer by HA does not capture all NHS expenditure within the area.
	6.For these reasons expenditure cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.
	Sources:
	1.South Essex HA audited accounts 199798 and 199899.
	2.South Essex HA audited summarisation forms 19992000 to 200102.
	3.Essex SHA audited summarisation forms 200203 and 200304.
	4.PCT audited summarisation schedules 200102 and 200304 for bodies within the above HA areas' weighted population figures.

NHS Finance

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has given (a) the West Suffolk Hospitals Trust and (b) the Suffolk West primary care trust about how to deal with its financial deficit.

Rosie Winterton: National health service organisations are expected to plan for and achieve financial balance each and every year. Any deficits of NHS trusts need to be matched by underspends by other NHS bodies each year. In the next year NHS trusts which overspend should make a surplus in order to ensure that other organisations can utilise the underspends from the previous year.
	It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance. However, there is a degree of flexibility in how this is managed at a local level. In circumstances where a surplus cannot be generated in the following year, SHAs can agree a recovery plan which phases the recovery of deficits over a number of years. This would require other NHS organisations within the health economy to underspend over the same period. Clearly, any such arrangements would have to be subject to the agreement of local providers, commissioners and the managing SHA.

NHS Finance

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1610W, what the latest available information in her Department is on NHS Trust deficits in (a) 200405 and (b) the current financial year.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The latest year for which audited data on the financial position of national health service organisations is available is 200304.
	For 200405 and 200506, audited information in respect of the financial position of all strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts. For 200405, this information will be available centrally in autumn 2005. For 200506, it will be available in the following autumn.

NHS Logistics

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the fitness for purpose of the IT system at NHS Logistics; and what assessment she has made of the requirement for a new IT system to expand the market served by NHS Logistics;
	(2)  if she will publish the report by KPMG on IT systems used by NHS Logistics and the IT systems capacity required to service the NHS supply chain.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority (NHSLA) undertakes an annual review of its information technology strategy, which covers issues such as system capacity and fitness for purpose. KPMG, NHSLA's internal auditor, has assisted NHS Logistics with these reviews. The reviews have concluded that the existing systems, with future planned enhancements, are capable of meeting the known medium term needs of the national health service and NHSLA.
	KPMG prepares reports for their client, NHSLA, on a confidential basis and, therefore, it has no plans to publish these reports.

NHS Logistics

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last significant restructuring of the management of NHS Logistics was.

Jane Kennedy: The last significant restructuring of the management of NHS Logistics was implemented in April 2000. This restructure was a result of recommendations made by the 1998 Cabinet Office Review of NHS Procurement. NHS Logistics has been subject to one internal management restructure since 2000, which was implemented in April 2003.

NHS Logistics

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what growth occurred in the supply of goods by NHS Logistics, including the share of the NHS consumables market each year since 1997, broken down by (a) volume and (b) value.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority (NHSLA) was formed in April 2000 and the income generated from the supply of goods is shown in the table. During this time, product revenues have grown by an average 8 per cent. per annum, which is a 38 per cent. increase on NHSLA's first year activity.
	
		Actual
		
			  Sales (000) 
		
		
			 200001 529,812 
			 200102 560,695 
			 200203 593,288 
			 200304 677,928 
			 200405 732,051 
		
	
	The national health service non-pay spend is circa 13billion per annum and the consumable healthcare element, the area in which NHSLA operates, is estimated at around 4.2 billion.
	This healthcare element has also grown by an average 8 per cent. per annum, resulting in a stable NHS logistics market share estimated at 18 per cent. by value and 70 per cent. by volume.

NHS Logistics

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS Logistics management has been asked by her Department to prepare a business plan relating to future expansion.

Jane Kennedy: As part of the business case process and evaluation of bidders' responses to the invitation to submit outline proposals, the NHS Logistics management was asked to prepare a 10-year forecast.

NHS Logistics

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether NHS Logistics management has prepared a business plan relating to future expansion;
	(2)  what the market growth target for NHS Logistics is.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority has prepared a business plan for the 20052006 financial year, which was approved by the Department. NHS Logistics has also produced a three-year corporate plan approved by the Department.
	NHS Logistics sales budget target for 200506 is 777 million.

NHS Logistics

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation has been undertaken with stakeholders on the future provision of each category of products used by NHS bodies but not supplied by NHS Logistics.

Jane Kennedy: The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency and NHS Logistics have an established network and ongoing contact with NHS trust level supplies managers, supply management confederations and collaborative procurement hubs. This is supplemented by an extensive range of product and category specific commodity advisory groups, comprising NHS product users and other stakeholders.
	These communication streams are consulted and provide input into the contracting process for the consumable products routed through NHS Logistics and also for those products that are supplied directly to the NHS. Selection of the most appropriate supply route for products is a key component of the contracting process and NHS Logistics is considered for all consumable product categories.

NHS Pensions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has fully funded the NHS for the costs its has incurred from its commitment properly to contribute to its staff pensions; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Government Actuary periodically assesses the current and prospective liabilities of the national health service pensions scheme and recommends a contribution rate at a level commensurate with those liabilities. The employer's contribution rate is currently set at 14 per cent. of pensionable pay.
	The costs of employers' pension contributions are taken into account in setting allocations.

NHS Supplies Service

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the business case for inviting companies to submit bids to provide the NHS supplies service.

Jane Kennedy: The business case contains commercially sensitive information and is not publicly available.

NHS Supplies Service

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis bidders to provide the NHS supplies service were accepted for the shortlist who may now be invited to negotiate.

Jane Kennedy: Under the European Union procurement rules, bidders were subject to a pre-qualification process. This process was conducted by the Department in conjunction with NHS Logistics and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency.
	Pre-qualification assessed bidders on technical skills, financial standing and willingness to comply with the Transfer of Undertakings for Protection of Employment (TUPE) legislation and Treasury guidance on staff transfers and pensions.

NHS Supplies Service

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether potential bidders to run the NHS supplies service have been advised that they require a new IT system.

Jane Kennedy: The invitation to submit outline proposals did not refer bidders to the need for a new information technology system, but explained that change to the system was envisaged over the 10 years of a potential contract.

NHS Supplies Service

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether additional warehouse capacity that may be required for the expansion of the NHS supplies service provided by NHS Logistics or its successor should be (a) rented and (b) purchased.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Logistics Authority has undertaken an assessment of its future warehouse capacity requirements. This indicated that the preferred option for future provision of additional capacity was through a contract with a third party service provider. The third party provider would be responsible for the provision of warehousing capacity and other resources needed to fulfil the contract.

NHS Supplies Service

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specifications for IT equipment have been laid down for potential bidders to run the NHS supply service.

Jane Kennedy: The current specifications for information technology equipment, as used by NHS Logistics, will continue to be used.

NHS Suspensions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) medical and (b) non-medical clinical staff who were suspended from work pending a fitness-to-practise investigation and subsequently return to work if they are cleared.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.

Organ Donation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to increase public awareness of organ donor programmes.

Rosie Winterton: Saving Lives, Valuing DonorsA Transplant Framework for England, sets out our key aims for transplantation including initiatives to encourage more people to donate organs and tissues. The Department has provided more than 10 million to UK Transplant to promote the organ donor register and support hospital-based initiatives. In 200506, we have provided over 100,000 of section 64 funding to charities promoting organ donation and supporting patient groups. The success of the various local and national campaigns has resulted in over 12.3 million people now registered on the organ donor register and in 200304 the highest number of organ transplants ever performed in the United Kingdom.
	From 1 October 2005, NHS Blood and Transplant will look for further opportunities to raise the profile of organ donation.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money has been spent on developing the Paddington basin health campus project, broken down by the date on which the costs were incurred; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Expenditure by year for Paddington health campus project and forecast to 30 June 2005 is shown in the table. The money spent is committed proportionate to the size and complexity of the project involved. Details on the cost involved in this project have been released in London strategic health authority board papers and, at different stages in the lifetime of this project, through other channelsin most cases, answers to parliamentary questions. We shall draw on the experience of this project in taking forward alternative developments in north west London.
	
		Expenditure by year for Paddington health campus project and forecast to 30 June 2005 -- 000
		
			  WLPF PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC PHC and WLPF 
			 PHC spend by year from 1999 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 from 1 April 2005 to 30 June 2005 total cost to 30 June 2005 
		
		
			 Advisers 1,479 231 520 947 2,991 1,536 112 7,816 
			 Pay 155 209 360 843 1,531 1,389 269 4,756 
			 Accommodation and other project costs 18 62 46 309 416 337 79 1,267 
			 Total 1,652 502 926 2,099 4,938 3,262 460 13,840 
			  
			 Estimated direct costs from Partnerships UK  (PUK)(44)282 388 497 0 1,167 
		
	
	(44)Not charged to budgetsbut payable by trusts on termination of projectadditional commitment
	Notes:
	1.Carrying costs are chargeable on PUK direct and indirect coststo be advised (and direct/indirect charges confirmed) by PUK.
	2.Paddington Development Corporation Ltd is claiming costs totalling 257,000 following termination of the collaboration agreement. The trusts are taking legal advice in respect of the claim. They have provisioned for the claim in their 200405 accounts. The cost of the claim is excluded from the above.
	3.WLPFWest London Partnership Forum (hosted by former Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority.
	4.PHCPaddington health campus (St. Mary's NHS Trust as paymaster).

Patient Choice

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted into NHS patient choice in the provision of primary medical services; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department has recently commissioned a survey by MORI to explore the choices in primary care which people exercise or would like to exercise. In addition, we are able to draw upon the response to the consultation Choice, responsiveness and equity in the NHS and social care which preceded publication of Building on the Best. Patient choice is also expected to be a theme of the forthcoming public consultation on out of hospital services, announced by the Secretary of State on 23 June 2005.

Patients' Forums

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the ability of new primary care trust-based patients' forums to monitor the London Ambulance Service as a pan-London body; and when she expects the current Patients' Form to cease operating.

Rosie Winterton: Currently the makeup of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) patient forums does not adequately represent the perspective of the capital overall. With 12 members, there are large parts of the city that do not have patient experience representation.
	It is the Government's intention to focus patient forum activity at the primary care trust (PCT) level but with arrangements in place to ensure the whole patients' journey is covered by forum activity. In the context of the LAS it is envisaged that all London PCT forums would work together to ensure that ambulance services are monitored and reviewed effectively from the patient perspective. It will be for the forums themselves to decide how best to achieve a comprehensive and robust arrangement, but one approach might be for each PCT forum to nominate one of its number to form a pan-London specialist ambulance review panel. Such an arrangement would mean that there was strong input from across the city with a membership of 29, with each London locality having a real chance to input into LAS at both strategic and operational levels.
	It is envisaged that the reduction of forums to be based on PCT areas only will be during 2006.

Photodynamic Therapy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations she has received about the development of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of cancer in the NHS; when and from whom each was received; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the NHS as a treatment for cancer; what plans she has to fund further research into the use of PDT; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Department has received representations about photodynamic therapy (PDT) from several correspondents; a list of these correspondents is not collated centrally. David Longman, director of Killing Cancer, has made recent representations about PDT.
	As part of its programme of work on interventional procedures, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is looking at the use of PDT in the treatment of several cancers. NICE has already issued guidance on the use of PDT in the treatment of Barrett's oesophagus and advanced bronchial carcinoma and is preparing guidance on the use of PDT in the treatment of bile duct cancer, skin tumours and advanced bronchial carcinoma.
	The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The Department is not directly funding research on photodynamic therapy for cancer, but is providing national health service support through the national cancer research network for two trials of photodynamic therapy for biliary tract cancers.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including a number concerned with photodynamic therapy, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Prescription Charging

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to conduct a review of the cost-effectiveness of prescription charging.

Jane Kennedy: I have no plans to review the cost effectiveness of the prescription charging arrangements.

Primary Care Trusts

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legislation would be required to enable mergers of existing primary care trusts; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are established by orders made by the Secretary of State under the National Health Service Act 1977. Each PCT is established for a specified area of England. Mergers can be effected by the Secretary of State dissolving or amending the area of an existing PCT or establishing a new PCT. Under the legislation, consultation is required on proposals to make such changes.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many primary care trusts in England did not meet their enhanced services floor (ESF) in 200405; what reasons have been reported to the Department for underspending on enhanced services; and what steps she is taking to ensure primary care trusts achieve their ESF in 200506;
	(2)  what sanctions can be imposed on primary care trusts which underspend against their enhanced services floor.

Liam Byrne: Spend on enhanced services is monitored locally by strategic health authorities (SHAs) and nationally by the technical steering committee; a United Kingdom-wide committee incorporating representatives from all UK health Departments, NHS Employers and the British Medical Association (BMA). This indicates that overall investment in enhanced services by primary care trusts (PCTs) in 200405 is expected to be greater than the planned investment of 601 million, although a minority of PCTs planned to under-spend against their enhanced services floor. Slippage and slow uptake on enhanced services schemes appear to be the main reasons behind the forecast underspends.
	As a consequence of this reported underspend, it has been agreed with the general practitioners' committee of the BMA that any underspends by PCTs in 200405 will be re-invested in 200506.
	SHAs have the power to intervene if they believe PCTs are not delivering the necessary level of investment to provide good quality service for patients.

Primary Care Trusts

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita funding for primary care trusts in (a) West Sussex, (b) Kent, (c) Durham and (d) the East Riding of Yorkshire was in each of the last five years; what the average for England was for each year; and what estimate has been made of allocations for the next five years.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the per capita funding for 200001 to 200708, as well as the England average. Allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) are based on the population weighted for a number of factors.
	The 200304 to 200506 revenue allocations to PCTs increased by an average of 30.8 per cent.
	The PCT revenue allocations for 200607 and 200708 increased by an average of 19.5 per cent. Revenue allocations to PCTs for 200809 onwards have not yet been determined.
	
		Allocation per head of population
		
			 Health authority (HA)/PCT 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 West Sussex 
			 Adur, Arun and Worthing 678 718 790 1,009 1,104 1,207 1,389 1,491 
			 Crawley 678 718 790 796 871 953 1,137 1,245 
			 Horsham and Chanctonbury 678 718 790 753 820 892 1,002 1,094 
			 Mid-Sussex 678 718 790 783 853 927 1,132 1,222 
			 Western Sussex 678 718 790 952 1,036 1,127 1,356 1,454 
			  
			 East Kent 
			 Ashford 726 777 854 845 924 1,010 1,133 1,237 
			 Canterbury and Coastal 726 777 854 925 1,007 1,095 1,222 1,322 
			 East Kent Coastal 726 777 854 1,021 1,119 1,224 1,412 1,541 
			 Shepway 726 777 854 980 1,073 1,173 1,333 1,453 
			 West Kent 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley 629 672 741 870 949 1,034 1,206 1,316 
			 Maidstone Weald 629 672 741 783 857 939 1,101 1,201 
			 Medway 629 672 741 780 857 939 1,126 1,254 
			 South West Kent 629 672 741 791 862 939 1,099 1,194 
			 Swale 629 672 741 839 923 1,012 1,185 1,338 
			  
			 County Durham
			 Darlington 745 808 884 1,006 1,096 1,189 1,398 1,508 
			 Derwentside 745 808 884 1,041 1,143 1,249 1,460 1,592 
			 Durham and Chester-le-Street 745 808 884 897 978 1,062 1,248 1,357 
			 Durham Dales 745 808 884 1,024 1,117 1,216 1,436 1,561 
			 Easington 745 808 884 1,030 1,158 1,296 1,664 1,912 
			 Sedgefield 745 808 884 1,011 1,108 1,210 1,442 1,576 
			  
			 East Riding 
			 East Yorkshire 677 741 814 834 909 987 1,114 1,209 
			 Eastern Hull 677 741 814 999 1,094 1,195 1,412 1,541 
			 West Hull 677 741 814 981 1,070 1,163 1,373 1,489 
			 Yorkshire Wolds and Coast 677 741 814 890 970 1,052 1,175 1,287 
			 England average 689 738 817 916 1,003 1,097 1,274 1,388 
		
	
	Notes:
	There are several reasons why comparisons between allocations rounds cannot be made. For example:
	1.19992000 was the first year that unified allocations were made to HAs to cover hospital and community health services (HCHS), prescribing and general medical services cash limited;
	2.200304 was the first year revenue allocations were made direct to PCTs for three years. Prior to 200304, revenue allocations were made to HAs oh an annual basis. Prior to 200304, the table has assumed the same allocation per head across the strategic health authority area;
	3.200607 is the first year that primary medical services were incorporated into revenue allocations.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to merge primary care trusts; and what (a) discussions she has had and (b) representations she has received on this issue.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are central to improving the health of their population by commissioning high quality care.
	Creating a patient-led NHS sets out the next stages of system reform and makes clear that the impact of the creation of foundation trusts, the new financial regime including payment by results, free choice in elective, the delegation of commissioning to general practitioner practices and the bringing together of contract management and administration into shared services means that PCTs will need to change and develop.
	The Department has set in train the preparation of guidance on the process and timescale for developing PCTs to ensure a broad consistency of approach across the country. This will be issued as soon as it is ready.

Prostate Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions her Department has had with representatives of (a) patient groups and (b) professional organisations on the implementation of the waiting times targets for prostate cancer patients;
	(2)  what safeguards she plans to put in place to ensure that the cancer waiting time targets allow prostate cancer patients time to reflect before deciding on an appropriate course of treatment;
	(3)  what steps she has taken to inform (a) professionals, (b) hospitals trusts and (c) patient support groups of issues relating to the implementation of waiting time targets for prostate cancer patients;
	(4)  what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that prostate cancer patients are not directed towards a less effective form of treatment so as to meet waiting time targets.

Rosie Winterton: holding answers 7 July 2005
	The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. There are two targets for prostate cancer to be achieved from December 2005; a maximum 31 day wait from diagnosis of prostate cancer to start of treatment and 62 days from urgent referral for suspected prostate cancer to first treatment.
	A national cancer waits project was set up in December 2004 and has held two national conferences on achievement of the 2005 waiting times targets. An expert reference group, chaired by the national cancer director, consisting of representatives from special health authorities, primary care trusts, senior clinicians and national health service managers meets regularly to advise the project and discuss NHS implementation of the targets. The prostate advisory group, which includes membership from prostate charities, also discussed prostate cancer waits at its last meeting.
	If a patient tells a clinician that they need time to reflect before deciding on treatment, then clinicians are allowed to suspend the time patients need to consider their treatment options. This means that when monitoring the time taken to achieve the targets, this time does not count as part of the 31 and 62 day waiting times. This ensures that patients have enough time to make the right decision about their favoured treatment option. Decisions on the best treatment for each individual cancer patient must remain a clinical decision made by a multi disciplinary team. The targets ensure that agreed treatment is delivered quickly.

Psoriasis

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of the NHS drug budget that was allocated to treating psoriasis in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The information is not available in the form requested. However, in 200304, the net ingredient cost of preparations used in the treatment of psoriasis was 31 million. This is 0.4 per cent, of the total net ingredient cost of all drugs dispensed in the community in England.

Residential Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of extra-care tenants died in (a) their extra-care home and (b) in hospital in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of residents of nursing and residential care homes died (a) in their care home and (b) in hospital in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The data are not centrally available.

Sexually-transmitted Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) gonorrhoea, (b) syphilis, (c) Chlamydia and (b) thrush have been diagnosed in each primary care trust in London in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis, Chlamydia and thrush (anogenital candidosis) diagnosed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in each primary care trust (PCT) in London from 2000 to 2004 inclusive has been placed in the Library.

Skin Cancer

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with skin cancer in London in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Sarah Teather, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many people have been diagnosed with skin cancer in London in each year since 1997. I am replying in his absence. (8323)
	The most recent available figures for the incidence of melanoma skin cancer are for the year 2002. Numbers of cases in London for the years 1997 to 2002 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin cancer(45) in London(46), 19972002
		
			  Persons 
		
		
			 1997 484 
			 1998 516 
			 1999 482 
			 2000 571 
			 2001 508 
			 2002 459 
		
	
	(45)Melanoma skin cancer is coded to C43 in the 10th edition of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10).
	(46)Government office for the region.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	Years 2000  2001table 4 'Cancer statistics: registrations, England' series MB1.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=
	8843Pos=ColRank=1Rank=240.

Skin Cancer

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow many cases of skin cancer linked to exposure to the sun have been reported in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Mark Tami, dated 11 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many cases of skin cancer linked to exposure to the sun have been reported in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (9213)
	The most recent available figures for the incidence of melanoma skin cancer are for the year 2002. Numbers of cases by sex for the years 1998 to 2002 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of melanoma skin cancer(47) in England, by sex, 19982002 -- Number of cases
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Males 2,149 2,161 2,541 2,638 2,832 
			 Females 2,851 2,880 3,280 3,424 3,584 
			 Total 5,000 5,041 5,821 6,062 6,416 
		
	
	(47)Melanoma skin cancer is coded to C43 in the 10th edition of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10).
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	Information on whether or not cases of skin cancer are linked to sun exposure is not available centrally.

Smoking

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Government have received regarding circumstances when smoking does not have a negative effect on public health.

Caroline Flint: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on Tuesday 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 365W.

Sterilisers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sterilisers for decontaminating surgical instruments were (a) over 16 years, (b) 11 to 15 years and (c) 10 or less years old in NHS hospitals in England, in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by health authority; and what proportion of the total number of sterilizers this represents in each case.

Jane Kennedy: We do not routinely collect information about the number of sterilisers and their ages. Information collected in compiling the comprehensive survey report, A Review of the Decontamination of Surgical Instruments in the NHS in England, published in December 2001, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Age (years) Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Less than 5 251 29 
			 610 200 22 
			 1115 199 27 
			 Greater than 16 242 27 
		
	
	As part of phase one of the decontamination programme, 160 sterilisers were procured by the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) for NHS trusts in England. We have no information on sterilisers that may have been bought by NHS Trusts without involving NHS PASA.

Trans Fats

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will introduce legislation to control trans fats in food products;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure that food labelling includes details of trans fats.

Caroline Flint: The Government are concerned about the possible health effects, in particular on coronary health, from consuming certain fats. Based on independent expert advice, the Government consider saturated fat intake reduction of particular public health significance and are working to reduce fat intakes, which will include both saturated and trans fatty acids. Currently average population dietary intakes of trans fats in the United Kingdom are considerably lower than those recommended by the committee on medical aspects of food policy (1994). There are currently no plans to introduce legislation to control the amount of trans fats in foods.
	The Government are pressing for the labelling of trans fatty acids in foods at European Union level.

Waiting Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 123W, on waiting time targets, whether the Department has agreed local delivery plans with strategic health authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: No. The Department are still in the process of agreeing local delivery plans with strategic health authorities.

Waiting Times

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for an appointment at a drug rehabilitation clinic in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and if she will list the clinics available in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: All drug action teams have to report waiting times figures to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse each quarter. The waiting time is defined as the time between the date an individual is first referred, or self-refers, for treatment, to the date he or she is admitted for structured treatment, following assessment.
	The latest average waiting times figures for Lancashire are for the first quarter of 2005January to Marchand shown in the following table. Comparison is made with the waiting times in December 2001, when collection of waiting times began.
	
		Lancashire -- Weeks
		
			  Average wait 
			 Treatment modality December 2001 March 2005 
		
		
			 In-patient treatment 12 3 
			 Residential rehabilitation 12 0 
			 Specialist prescribing 12 9 
			 General practitioner prescribing 12 3 
			 Structured day care 12 1 
			 Structured counselling 12 2 
		
	
	Data is not reported on a sub-drug action team basis, so data for Chorley is not included in this response.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abandoned Vehicles

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of London's Operation Scrap-it; what plans his Department has for further funding of the project; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 108W.

Alcohol (Under-age Sales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many successful prosecutions were brought against shops and off-licences for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age in England and Wales in each year between 1984 and 2004;
	(2)  how many convictions were made for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age in England and Wales in each year from 1984 to 2004.

Hazel Blears: The number of prosecutions and convictions for sales of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age including those against shops and off- licences, in England and Wales 1984 to 2003, are contained in the table.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age, England and Wales 1984 to 2003(48)(5508010049)
		
			  Offence description  Statute  Year Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional 1984 314 164 
			 persons under 18 for consumption Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1) 1985 274 170 
			 on the premises  1986 296 165 
			   1987 333 167 
			   1988 673 357 
			   1989 747 388 
			   1990 574 273 
			   1991 309 155 
			   1992 195 87 
			   1993 156 70 
			   1994 137 83 
			   1995 198 108 
			   1996 251 119 
			   1997 214 125 
			   1998 310 157 
			   1999 204 115 
			   2000 130 56 
			   2001 155 53 
			   2002 168 105 
			   2003 604 416 
			  
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor Licensing Act 1964, Sec.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1984 (50) (50) 
			 to a person under 18 1988, Sec17. 1985 (50) (50) 
			   1986 (50) (50) 
			   1987 (50) (50) 
			   1988 (50) (50) 
			   1989 1  
			   1990 4 1 
			   1991 1 1 
			   1992   
			   1993   
			   1994 1  
			   1995   
			   1996   
			   1997 1 1 
			   1998 1 1 
			   1999 1  
			   2000 2  
			   2001 3  
			   2002 2  
			   2003 12 3 
		
	
	(48)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(49)Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.
	(50)Not available.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal orders have been made under the provisions of section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 since the Act came into force; and if he will list the areas designated.

Hazel Blears: The figures requested are not routinely collected centrally. We estimate that dispersal powers have been authorised in over 400 areas between January 2004, when the powers came into force, and September 2004. We do not have a breakdown of the areas designated.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) crack house closure orders, (b) housing injunctions for antisocial behaviour and (c) demoted tenancies have been issued under the provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 since the Act came into force.

Hazel Blears: The information is as follows:
	(a) Under the powers of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 over 150 Crack House Closure Orders have been issued between 20 January 2004 and the end of October 2004.
	(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) are committed to working with local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) through the Housing Corporation, in order to develop means to collect data on the use of Housing injunctions from 200607 onwards.
	(c) ODPM has requested that local authorities supply information on numbers of demoted tenancies from the current financial year onwards. The Housing Corporation are currently collecting this information from registered social landlords (RSLs) with the first set of annual data expected by late summer this year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in (a) Pembrokeshire and (b) the Dyfed Powys police force area during each year since their introduction.

Hazel Blears: Data on convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) are currently available from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 and are available at the criminal justice system (CJS) area level only. Of the 11 ASBOs reported to the Home Office as having been issued in the Dyfed Powys CJS area (which is coterminous with the police force area) during this period, five were breached on one or more occasions (all for the first time in 2003).Breach data for 2004 will be available towards the end of the year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued since inception, broken down by(a) London borough and (b) local authority in Essex.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office, where restrictions are imposed within the local government authority areas of Essex and Greater London, 1 June 2000(51) to 31 December 2004
		
			 Area Total issued 
		
		
			 Basildon DC 7 
			 Chelmsford BC 4 
			 Colchester BC 5 
			 Epping Forest DC 6 
			 Harlow DC 8 
			 Maldon DC 3 
			 Southend-on-sea BC 14 
			 Tendring DC 2 
			 Thurrock BC 1 
			 Uttlesford DC 2 
			 Essex total 52 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 2 
			 Barnet 12 
			 Bexley 16 
			 Brent 12 
			 Bromley 9 
			 Camden 73 
			 City of London 5 
			 Croydon 14 
			 Ealing 12 
			 Enfield 4 
			 Greenwich 11 
			 Hackney 8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 11 
			 Haringey 17 
			 Harrow 6 
			 Havering 8 
			 Hillingdon 12 
			 Hounslow 22 
			 Islington 12 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Royal Borough 9 
			 Kingston-on-Thames 7 
			 Lambeth 17 
			 Lewisham 13 
			 Merton 14 
			 Newham 7 
			 Richmond upon Thames 11 
			 Southwark 12 
			 Sutton 10 
			 Tower Hamlets 17 
			 Waltham Forest 12 
			 Wandsworth 12 
			 Westminster 31 
			 Greater London total 438 
		
	
	(51)Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa). During this period no reports were received of ASBOs issued in Essex and nine ASBOs were issued in Greater London.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of antisocial behaviour orders since their introduction have been issued to under 16-year-olds from (a) two parent households, (b) single parent households and (c) local authority care.

Hazel Blears: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued to persons aged 10 to 15 years inclusive, as reported to the Home Office, from 1 June 2000 up to 31 December 2004 (latest available) is 1,047. Data collated by the Home Office for statistical purposes does not identify the personal circumstances of ASBO recipients.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in (a) the county of Bedfordshire and (b) the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 1999.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued at all courts in Bedfordshire, as reported to the Home Office, and where orders have imposed restrictions within the local government authority areas in which the Mid Bedfordshire constituency is situated, by period, up to 31 December 2004 (latest available)
		
			  Total issued 
			 Period Bedfordshire Bedford borough council Mid Bedfordshire DC South Bedfordshire DC 
		
		
			 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(52) 0 (53) (53) (53) 
			 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000 0 0 0 0 
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 4 3 0 0 
			 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 4 1 2 0 
			 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 14 5 1 1 
			 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 15 1 1 3 
			 Total (54)37 10 4 4 
		
	
	(52)Between 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area.
	(53)Not available
	(54)Includes three ASBOs issued within the county of Bedfordshire where restrictions imposed relate to local government authority areas outside the county.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in the Chelmsford local authority area in the last two years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The number of antisocial behaviour orders issued, as reported to the Home Office, where restrictions have been imposed within the local government authority area of Chelmsford borough council, in 2003 and 2004, is four. All of them were issued in 2004.

Asylum Seekers

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last six months asylum detainees have been transported to and from Yarl's Wood and Oakington Detention Centres in vehicles not equipped with CCTV; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: This information is not readily available and the provision of a reply would be at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the grounds were for an order for deportation made against Anastancia Zulu, a Zimbabwean national detained at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, on 14 June 2005.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 30 June 2005
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 7 July 2005.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those applying for asylum in the UK who had their application fast tracked during 2004 were detained for the duration of their application process; and what the average time taken to process a fast track application was in 2004.

Tony McNulty: There are two separate detained fast track processes, which were operating in 2004. The Oakington process, which incorporates Non-Suspensive Appeals (NSA) and the Detained Fast Track at Harmondsworth.
	During 2004, 6,520 applicants entered the Oakington process. The average length of stay for a detainee is not recorded centrally. However, the fast track process at Oakington is intended for claims which, upon initial screening, appear capable of being decided quickly in about 7 to 14 days. Claimants from countries listed on the designated NSA list at Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 are subject to the NSA procedure from the outset. Claimants who receive a clearly unfounded decision at Oakington can be immediately removed. Some claimants may stay at Oakington after their NSA decision pending re-documentation or because they are seeking to pursue a judicial review. Where appropriate to do so, they are detained at Oakington pending removal, others may be moved to other centres. The majority of claimants who do not receive a certified decision are released on temporary admission on completion of the Oakington process whilst their appeal is processed.
	During 2004, 1,105 asylum applicants entered the Detained Fast Track at Harmondsworth. Since its inception in April 2003, the average time of detention for applicants in the fast track stands at 44 days from arrival at Harmondsworth to release and/or removal, this information is based on internal management information as such is not published within the official statistics.

Asylum Seekers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were received from Eritrean nationals in (a) 200001, (b) 200102, (c) 200203, (d) 200304 and (e) 200405; and how many Eritrean nationals were deported in each year.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum applications and asylum removals are published quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(55) of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, nationals of Eritrea, financial year 200102 to 200405(56)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 n/a 
			 200102(57) 5 
			 200203(57) * 
			 200304(57)(5508010058) 20 
			 200405(58) 60 
		
	
	n/a=not available.
	(55)Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(56)Figures rounded to the nearest five and *=1 or 2, may not sum due to rounding.
	(57)Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.
	(58)Provisional figures.

Asylum Seekers

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are appealing against refusals.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum initial decision outcomes and appeal outcomes is published quarterly and annually on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been made in Scotland since January; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Applications are made for asylum in the UK as a whole. The available data relates to the UK. Data are not available for constituent countries within the UK. Applications, excluding dependants, fell by 17 per cent. in quarter one (January to March) 2005 compared with the previous quarter. Information on asylum applications in the United Kingdom by nationality are published quarterly on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department has collated on the treatment of people whose applications for asylum in the UK are refused and who are returned to Zimbabwe.

Tony McNulty: We have not received any corroborated reports of systematic mistreatment of returnees to Zimbabwe. We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. But our assessment of the situation on the ground is constantly monitored from a wide variety of sources, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, media reports and UK Government contacts with NGOs on the ground. Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with those NGOs operating within the country we follow up any specific allegations of ill-treatment of returned failed asylum seekers. The country of origin information used by Home Office caseworkers is publicly available on the Home Office website.

Asylum Seekers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's use of internal flight alternative as a reason for refusal of asylum applications.

Tony McNulty: If a claimant has a well founded fear of persecution in their home area we will consider whether there is another part of their country in which they would be safe from persecution and to which it would be reasonable to expect the claimant to move. If there is, the claimant would not qualify for asylum. However, if there is no other part of the country that is safe from persecution or it would be unduly harsh to expect a claimant to relocate to a safe part of the country, then their fear of persecution in relation to the country as a whole would be well-founded. Instructions to caseworkers on the question of internal relocation are published on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's website.

Asylum Seekers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guarantees have been received by his Department that returned Darfuri asylum seekers will not be at serious risk of torture or inhumane treatment in Khartoum;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to ensure the UK fulfils its commitment to avoid refoulement of asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Claimants who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. In this way we ensure that we provide protection to those who need it. Conditions in the countries of origin of asylum applicants are continuously monitored.
	UKAIT 00101, promulgated 3 May 2005), the independent tribunal considered the most recent situation reports by a range of key sources including UNHCR, Amnesty International and Global IDP Project and ruled that ordinary non-Arab ethnic Darfuris may relocate internally to the capital Khartoum where they are safe from persecution. In accordance with these tribunal findings, we consider that, depending on the individual circumstances of the case, internal relocation for ordinary non-Arab ethnic Darfuris is a safe and viable option. In such cases, Khartoum is the most practical location in terms of safety and viability and we specifically advise that this profile of Darfuri is safe from persecution in the capital. We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. However, any specific allegations of ill-treatment of returned failed asylum seekers would be followed up through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with those NGOs operating within the country concerned.

Asylum Seekers

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what evidence he relies on to formulate a view that a country can take back asylum seekers without persecution; and how often such a view is updated;
	(2)  what steps the Government and their consular officials take (a) to help and (b) to keep track of returned asylum seekers in their home country.

Tony McNulty: Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Claimants who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. In this way we ensure that we provide protection to those who need it. Conditions in the countries of origin of asylum applicants are continuously monitored. Each application is considered against the background of the latest available country of origin information from a wide range of reliable sources including intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN), governmental sources (including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and human rights organisations (for example Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch). We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK. However, any specific allegations of ill-treatment of returned failed asylum seekers are followed up through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and with those NGOs operating within the country concerned.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of alerts from the automatic number plate recognition system have been false positives; and what proportion related to (a) stolen vehicles, (b) non-payment of vehicle excise duty, (c) expired MOT certificates and (d) absence of insurance.

Paul Goggins: During Project Laser Two, the evaluation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) usage, a total of 101,775 vehicles were stopped by the police.
	This study showed the following accuracy levels of databases used by the police:
	Local force databases83 per cent.
	Police National Computer (PNC)79 per cent.
	Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)40 per cent.
	The PNC contains many more information reports than stolen vehicles, such as those used by persons wanted by the police. It is not possible, therefore, to identify false positives by the category of stolen vehicle alone. The police do not currently utilise databases specifically relating to expired Ministry of Transport (MOT) Certificates or the absence of insurance.
	The Home Office is working closely with the Department for Transport to provide a method for electronically transferring data from the DVLA to the police so that information exchange is more timely and accurate. This is in addition to other improvements being made in this area by the DVLA such as the bar coding of Vehicle Excise Licences at the point of issue.

Clear-up Rates

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to define the clearance of a crime for the purposes of reporting statistics on clear-up of offences by police forces in (i)England and (ii) Wales.

Hazel Blears: The way in which police forces in England and Wales should record and detect crime is governed by the Home Office Counting Rules for Recorded Crime. Section H of the General Rules in that document gives detailed information regarding the detecting of offences.
	A copy of the Counting Rules is available on the Home Office website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html

Community Sentences

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) female and (b) male offenders have received community penalties in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is shown in table form for the years 19972003, which is the latest year for which data are currently available.
	
		Persons sentenced to community sentences 1997 to 2003 -- Percentage
		
			  Female Male 
		
		
			 1997 8.7 10.5 
			 1998 8.9 10.5 
			 1999 10.1 11.0 
			 2000 9.2 11.4 
			 2001 10.6 12.7 
			 2002 11.0 13.7 
			 2003 10.9 13.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Sentencing Statistics, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 05/05, published February 2005.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 6 April, ref 1064462, from the hon. Member for Birmingham Ladywood.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to my right hon. Friend recently.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter to him dated 22 March 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. N. Hussain.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 April 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter to him dated 10 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms Zeinab Abdulrahman Al-hashmi.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 9 June 2005.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Nationality will reply to the letter dated 10 May from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Ms R. Dyka of Boddam.

Tony McNulty: The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), wrote on 13 June.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the members of the Review of the Law Relating to Bribery and Corruption team to meet.

Fiona Mactaggart: A review of the existing laws of corruption was completed by the Law Commission in 1998. The draft Corruption Bill, which was published and received pre-legislative scrutiny in 2003, was based on proposals from this review. The Government response to the report of the Joint Committee which gave the Bill pre-legislative scrutiny set out the extent to which it agreed with the Joint Committee's recommendations. It remains the Government's aim to introduce the Corruption Bill when parliamentary time permits.

Criminal Justice Act 1988

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions under section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 have taken place in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many custodial sentences have been imposed on defendants convicted under section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 141A as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec 6(1) (Any person who sells to a person under age of 16 years, a knife; knife blade, razor blade, axe and any other article which has a blade, that is sharply pointed and which is made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person), England and Wales 1999 to 2003.Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts under Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 141A(59), England and Wales 1999 to 2003
		
			 Sentence breakdown 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Sentenced Absolute/ conditional discharge Fine Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with 
		
		
			 1999 3 2 2  1  1 
			 2000
			 2001 9 8 8  8   
			 2002 11 10 10  10   
			 2003 17 17 17 2 14  1 
		
	
	(59)These data are on the principal offence basis.

Criminal Prosecutions

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been found guilty of committing a crime in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of young people found guilty at all courts for all offences, in South Tyneside PSA, the North East region and England and Wales, 1997 to 2003 are contained in table A. It is not possible to identify those offenders in the Jarrow constituency, as the data do not go down to this level of detail.
	In addition to court proceedings statistics, the number of young people of school age given Reprimands or Final Warnings in the North East region and England and Wales are provided in table B.
	Statistics for 2004 court proceedings will be available in the autumn.
	
		Table A: Number of young offenders of school age found guilty at all courts for all offences, 1997 to 2003(60)(5508010061)
		
			 Location 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 South Tyneside(62) 157 263 282 281 326 442 441 
			 North East region 4,273 5,018 5,275 4,810 4,531 4,483 4,288 
			 England and Wales 45,561 50,990 54,266 55,954 59,152 58,171 57,144 
		
	
	(60)Young offenders of school age, aged 1016 years.
	(61)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(62)Includes Crown court where South Tyneside was the committing court.
	
		Table B: Number of young offenders of school age given a reprimand or final warning for all offences, 1997 to 2003(63)(5508010064)
		
			  Location 
			  North East region England and Wales 
		
		
			 1997 8,578 83,822 
			 1998 7,344 89,083 
			 1999 6,741 84,786 
			 2000 6,648 81,806 
			 2001 6,764 82,839 
			 2002 6,711 71,433 
			 2003 6,670 75,906 
		
	
	(63)Young offenders of school age, aged 1016 years.
	(64)These data are on the principal offence basis.

Criminal Prosecutions

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal cases were prosecuted in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 5 July 2005
	Data from the Home Office Court Proceedings database on the number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts for all offences, by region, 1994 to 2003 are contained in the table. Statistics for 2004 court proceedings will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts for all offences broken down by region, 1994 to 2003(65)
		
			 Region 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 North East 103,988 95,591 96,309 92,026 98,447 
			 North West 277,260 289,783 311,974 299,987 312,525 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 180,527 163,213 186,463 188,984 199,511 
			 East Midlands 152,086 138,208 146,259 145,397 153,844 
			 West Midlands 208,743 194,545 202,221 209,582 231,112 
			 East of England 158,979 147,488 159,690 158,485 163,316 
			 London 386,989 310,302 306,866 268,984 271,893 
			 South East 219,874 214,436 214,839 205,041 222,407 
			 South West 156,670 162,639 167,032 159,064 164,589 
			 Wales 102,049 120,102 127,841 127,783 134,271 
			   
			 Total 1,947,165 1,836,307 1,919,494 1,855,333 1,951,915 
		
	
	
		
			 Region 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 North East 106,177 111,597 113,736 111,652 110,621 
			 North West 300,783 323,148 306,265 309,445 327,001 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 209,843 208,896 193,634 197,580 201,740 
			 East Midlands 151,843 151,013 154,856 154,363 176,433 
			 West Midlands 210,381 201,778 193,661 207,462 210,792 
			 East of England 152,790 151,598 153,142 164,880 170,760 
			 London 262,047 255,914 237,935 266,219 260,825 
			 South East 208,557 221,026 217,278 226,071 231,039 
			 South West 152,341 154,476 149,779 160,693 172,646 
			 Wales 127,003 125,231 117,447 126,463 138,965 
			   
			 Total 1,881,765 1,904,677 1,837,733 1,924,828 2,000,822 
		
	
	(65)These data are on the principal offence basis

Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which individuals and organisations were consulted in drawing up the criteria for referral to the Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder programme.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder programme (DSPD) is a pilot aimed at developing and evaluating pilot treatment services for dangerous offenders whose offending is linked to severe personality disorder. The referral and assessment processes are key elements of the pilot and are therefore also subject to on-going development and evaluation.
	In establishing the current criteria for referral and assessment for the DSPD programme the following individuals and organisations were consulted:
	Dr. David Thornton (Sand Ridge Sex Offender Treatment Centre, USA)
	Dr. Linda Blud (HM Prison Service)
	Ms. Gill Attrill (HM Prison Service)
	Dr. Caroline Logan (University of Liverpool)
	Ms Pam Wilson (HM Prison Service)
	Prof. Don Grubin (Newcastle University)
	Prof. Anthony Maden (Broadmoor Hospital)
	Dr. Todd Hogue (Rampton Hospital)
	Prof. Steven Hart (Simon Fraser University, Canada)
	Mr. Ed Wozniak (Scottish Prison Service)
	Dr. Kevin Douglas (University of South Florida, USA)
	Prof. Brian Ferguson (Nottinghamshire Health Trust)
	The DSPD Expert advisory group, which advises on all aspects of the programme, was also consulted. This group comprised the following individuals.
	Prof. E.S. Paykel (University of Cambridge)
	Prof. Jeremy Coid (Queen Mary College and East London and City Mental Health NHS trust)
	Dr. Steve Wong (University of Saskatchewan, Canada)
	Prof. Ronald Blackburn (University of Liverpool)
	Prof. David Cooke (Douglas Inch Centre and Glasgow Caledonian University)
	Prof Kevin Gournay (Institute of Psychiatry)
	Ms. Kathryn Harney (Department of Health and University of Liverpool)
	Prof. Sheilagh Hodgins (Institute of Psychiatry)
	Prof. Roy King (University of Wales)
	Dr. Pete Snowden (Ashworth Hospital)
	Prof. Peter Tyrer (Imperial College London).
	Key clinicians and stakeholders from HM Prison Service and the Department of Health were also consulted. This included the involvement of the DSPD units themselves. The DSPD referral and assessment criteria have also been presented and discussed at a variety of forums including academic conferences, the Royal College of Psychiatry and legal representatives.

Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what access to advocacy is provided to people in the Dangerous Severe Personality Disorder programme (a) prior to referral and (b) while on the programme.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Dangerous Severe Personality programme is based both in high security hospital and prison settings. The access to advocacy is dependent on which setting an individual comes from as well as the setting to which they are admitted (if they meet the criteria).
	For those coming from, or being admitted to a High Secure Hospital the arrangements are the same as those available to all patients in high secure hospitals; full access to an independent advocacy service. The service includes provision of clinics for groups of patients and also on a one-to-one basis at their request.
	For those coming from, or being admitted to a High Secure Prison the arrangements are the same as those available to all Prisoners. Although there is no dedicated service, advocacy can be sought from: friends and family; lawyers; the Independent Monitoring Board; the Probation Service seconded staff in prisons; and the Chaplaincy.

Deportations

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will stop the deportation to Zimbabwe of Timbha Mqubeli, Home Office reference No. T1053486.

Tony McNulty: It is not our usual practice to disclose information about an individual's immigration case to anybody other than their nominated representatives or constituency MP.

Domestic Violence (Haringey)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of domestic violence were reported in the London borough of Haringey in each year since 1995; how many fatalities were recorded as a result of these incidents; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: From the information collected centrally on recorded crime and court proceedings, it is not possible to identify cases of domestic violence. Such offences are not specifically defined by statute and details of the individual circumstances of offences do not feature in either data series.

Dovegate Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department whether the Director General ofthe National Offender Management Service visited Dovegate Prison on or around 6 August 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: Martin Narey, Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, visited Dovegate prison on 6 August 2004.

Local Government Employees (Assault)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees in local government have been the victims of offences of violence suffered in the course of their employment in each of the last 20 years.

Hazel Blears: The requested information cannot be supplied as there is no specific offence of assault on public sector worker defined by statute. Such incidents are recorded by the police depending on the severity of the violence used and in accordance with the relevant legislation, for example more or less serious wounding or common assault, and cannot be separately identified from recorded crime series data. Assaulting someone who is serving the public is an aggravating factor which will be considered by the courts in passing sentence.

Engagements

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Hammersmith and Fulham.

Charles Clarke: The hon. Member will be aware of my visit to Hammersmith on 30 June on behalf of the Department to speak at the GPA Celebrate Conference.

EU Accession Countries

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) education services, (b) health services, (c) publicly-funded housing, (d) benefits, (e) employment protection and (f) other public services to which (i) citizens of the EU Accession State countries who have not registered to work but who are living in the UK with families and (ii) their families are entitled; and to which services (A) those who have registered for work and (B) their families are entitled.

Tony McNulty: With effect from 1 May 2004, A8 nationals have been able to take up employment in the UK provided that they are authorised to do so under the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). A8 nationals who are registered and working are entitled to the same treatment in respect of benefits as would other EEA nationals. An A8 national who has worked legally under the WRS for a period of 12 months without interruption (periods of employment must not total more than 30 days in any 12 month period) is entitled to full free movement rights and is no longer required to register his or her employment. I will write to my hon. Friend with full details of how entitlements vary depending on an individual's circumstances, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

European Police College

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what courses (a) are and (b) will be made available at the European Police College.

Hazel Blears: The European Police College's 2005 workplan has been placed in the House Library: document reference 10058/04 ENFOPOL 61
	The European Police College's 2006 workplan was approved by the Council on 24 June 2005 and has been placed in the House Library: document reference 9133/05 ENFOPOL 63.

Female Genital Mutilation

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which countries his Department has had discussions regarding the extra-territorial aspects of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2004.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The Home Office has not had any discussions with other countries about the extra-territorial aspects of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (FCO) which has responsibility for consular cases involving female genital mutilation, (FGM) has ensured that all posts are aware of this Act and has asked staff in countries with high prevalence rates to report on the action they could take to assist potential victims. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had discussions with relevant authorities in France about the action taken by French consular staff to assist victims of FGM and are planning to approach those in the Netherlands. Further guidance for consular staff is being developed by the FCO, in conjunction with the police and social services.
	More generally, the FCO and DfID fund projects aimed at eradicating FGM overseas and providing adequate health care for girls and women affected by it. The FCO also works, through the UN and other international bodies, to encourage countries which have not done so to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

Firearms Offences

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many air weapon offences have been committed in England and Wales by (a) 14, (b) 15, (c) 16, (d) 17-year-olds and (e) those over 18 years since the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 came into force.

Hazel Blears: Offences under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, Section 37 came into force on 20 January 2004. Statistics of court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn of 2005.

Firearms Offences

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been carried out on the effects of the provisions relating to air weapons in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003; and on what basis the decision was taken to raise the age limit for air weapons.

Hazel Blears: There has been no central research into the effects of the provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 relating to air weapons. It is not possible to establish the age of offenders from offence statistics, which remain unacceptably high, but the Government believe that much of this misuse is carried out by young people and that a further increase in the age limit will help to prevent this.

Firearms Offences

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by the police in which (a) a firearm was alleged to have been used and (b) an identified firearm other than an air weapon was alleged to have been used in (i) England and (ii) Wales from 1994 to 2004 in (A) total and (B) as a percentage of all crimes.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Recorded crimes involving firearms (excluding air weapons)
		
			  England and Wales Wales England All recorded crimes Percentage of firearm crimes to all recorded firearms 
		
		
			 1994 5,822 n/a n/a 5,252,980 0.11 
			 1995 5,866 79 5,787 5,100,241 0.12 
			 1996 6,063 116 5,947 5,036,552 0.12 
			 1997 4,904 85 4,819 4,598,357 0.11 
			 199798 4,903 95 4,808 4,545,337 0.11 
			 199899(66) 5,209 100 5,109 5,109,089 0.10 
			 19992000 6,843 94 6,749 5,301,187 0.13 
			 200001 7,470 110 7,360 5,170,843 0.14 
			 200102(67) 10,023 106 9,917 5,525,024 0.18 
			 200203(68) 10,248 161 10,087 5,898,560 0.17 
			 200304 10,338 169 10,169 5,934,580 0.17 
		
	
	
		Recorded crimes involving firearms (including air weapons)
		
			  England and Wales Wales England All recorded crimes Percentage of firearm crimes to all recorded firearms 
		
		
			 1994 12,977 449 12,528 5,252,980 0.25 
			 1995 13,104 635 12,469 5,100,241 0.26 
			 1996 13,013 401 12,612 5,036,552 0.26 
			 1997 12,410 342 12,068 4,598,357 0.27 
			 199899(66) 13,874 591 13,283 5,109,089 0.27 
			 19992000 16,946 712 16,234 5,301,187 0.32 
			 200001 17,697 614 17,083 5,170,843 0.34 
			 200102(67) 22,400 431 21,969 5,525,024 0.41 
			 200203(68) 24,070 938 23,132 5,898,560 0.41 
			 200304 24,094 920 23,174 5,934,580 0.41 
		
	
	n/a=not available.
	(66)There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998.
	(67)Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of national implementation.
	(68)The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after this date are not directly comparable.

Firearms Offences

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded by the police in which a firearm was alleged to have been used, broken down by (a) crime and (b) firearm used for England and Wales for each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Table 1: Firearms offences (excluding air-weapons)200102(69)
		
			 Offence group Handgun Imitation firearm Long-barrelled shotgun Other firearm Rifle 
		
		
			 England  
			 Homicide 59  18 2 1 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 583 88 84 40 10 
			 Other violence against the person 806 664 63 498 17 
			 Sexual offences 21 1  1 1 
			 Burglary 333 31 13 27 3 
			 Robbery 3,833 270 143 292 16 
			 Fraud and forgery 4 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 35 2 1 9 2 
			 Criminal damage 25 95 39 11 13 
			 Other offences 159 27 10 43 1 
			 Total 5,858 1178 371 923 64 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Homicide   2   
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 5 1  1  
			 Other violence against the person 3 44 4   
			 Sexual offences  1
			 Robbery 8 9
			 Criminal damage  11 3   
			 Other offences  2  2  
			 Total 16 68 9 3  
		
	
	
		
			  Sawn-off shotgun Unconverted starting gun Unidentified firearm Total 
		
		
			 England 
			 Homicide 1  12 93 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 62 2 166 1,035 
			 Other violence against the person 35 15 179 2,277 
			 Sexual offences  0 3 27 
			 Burglary 17 2 35 461 
			 Robbery 199 4 548 5,305 
			 Fraud and forgery4 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2  5 56 
			 Criminal damage 5  185 373 
			 Other offences 9 3 35 287 
			 Total 330 26 1,168 9,918 
			  
			 Wales 
			 Homicide2 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life   5 12 
			 Other violence against the person51 
			 Sexual offences1 
			 Robbery 2  1 20 
			 Criminal damage   2 16 
			 Other offences4 
			 Total 2  8 106 
		
	
	(69)Figures may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before l April 2002
	
		Table 2: Firearms offences (excluding air-weapons)200203
		
			 Offence group Handgun Imitation firearm Long-barrelled shotgun Other firearm Rifle 
		
		
			 England  
			 Homicide 39  10  5 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 632 68 92 24 8 
			 Other violence against the person 938 1,143 67 421 16 
			 Sexual offences 40 3 3 3 1 
			 Burglary 328 20 18 26 2 
			 Robbery 3,325 259 100 167 7 
			 Fraud and forgery 4 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 29 8 1 3  
			 Criminal damage 24 155 44 23 11 
			 Other offences 172 38 17 37 2 
			 Total 5,531 1,694 352 704 52 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Homicide 1  1   
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 3 3 1   
			 Other violence against the person 6 82 3 3  
			 Sexual offences  1
			 Robbery 7 8 1   
			 Criminal damage  25 2   
			 Other offences 1 1 1 2  
			 Total 18 120 9 5  
		
	
	
		
			  Sawn-off shotgun Unconverted starting gun Unidentified firearm Total 
		
		
			 England 
			 Homicide 3  21 78 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 47 3 256 1,130 
			 Other violence against the person  14 279 2,922 
			 Sexual offences   10 60 
			 Burglary 22 1 54 471 
			 Robbery 174 3 578 4,613 
			 Fraud and forgery4 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods   11 52 
			 Criminal damage 9  166 432 
			 Other offences 9  50 325 
			 Total 308 21 1,425 10,087 
			  
			 Wales 
			 Homicide2 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 1  3 11 
			 Other violence against the person 1   95 
			 Sexual Offences1 
			 Robbery   1 17 
			 Criminal damage   1 28 
			 Other offences 1  1 7 
			 Total 3  6 161 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Firearms offences (excluding air-weapons)200304
		
			 Offence group Handgun Imitation firearm Long-barrelled shotgun Other firearm Rifle 
		
		
			 England  
			 Homicide 35 1 7 1  
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 663 58 104 50 10 
			 Other violence against the person 986 1,431 104 486 15 
			 Sexual offences 44 6 1  1 
			 Burglary 347 23 19 29  
			 Robbery 2,790 227 97 210 11 
			 Fraud and forgery 5 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 38 5  10  
			 Criminal damage 27 240 62 79 10 
			 Other offences 188 38 16 33  
			 Total 5,123 2,029 410 898 47 
			   
			 Wales  
			 Homicide  
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 5 5 2 3  
			 Other violence against the person 4 88 4 6  
			 Sexual offences  
			 Burglary   1  1 
			 Robbery 9 3 1   
			 Criminal damage 1 21 6 1  
			 Other offences 2 
			 Total 21 117 14 10 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Sawn-off shotgun Unconverted starting gun Unidentified firearm Total 
		
		
			 England 
			 Homicide 4  20 68 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 46 1 263 1,195 
			 Other violence against the person 55 8 303 3,388 
			 Sexual Offences   5 57 
			 Burglary 26  59 503 
			 Robbery 148 5 531 4,019 
			 Fraud and forgery   1 6 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 1 1 8 63 
			 Criminal damage 6 1 121 546 
			 Other offences 5 2 42 324 
			 Total 291 18 1,353 10,169 
			  
			 Wales 
			 Homicide 
			 Attempted murder and other acts (including wounding) endangering life 2   17 
			 Other violence against the person   3 105 
			 Sexual offences 
			 Burglary 1   3 
			 Robbery13 
			 Criminal damage29 
			 Other offences2 
			 Total 3  3 169

Firearms Offences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been killed by firearms since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The number of homicides involving firearms, including air weapons, in England and Wales is given in the table.
	
		Homicides involving firearms (including air weapons) in England and Wales
		
			  Number of homicides 
		
		
			 199798 54 
			 199899 49 
			 19992000 62 
			 200001 73 
			 200102 97 
			 200203 81 
			 200304 68

Firearms Offences

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many air weapon offences have been committed in England and Wales by persons aged (a) 14, (b) 15, (c) 16, (d) 17 and (e) over 18 years sincethe Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 came into force.

Hazel Blears: Offences under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, Section 37 came into force on 20 January 2004. Statistics of court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn of 2005.

Firearms Offences

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been carried out on the effects of recent changes in air weapon legislation in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003; and what the evidential basis was for raising the minimum age for air weapons to 18.

Hazel Blears: There has been no central research into the effects of the provisions in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 relating to air weapons. It is not possible to establish the age of offenders from offence statistics, which remain unacceptably high, but the Government believe that much of this misuse is carried out by young people and that a further increase in the age limit will help to prevent this.

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department will take to encourage those taking part in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme to remain in Scotland following the expiration of the initial two-year visa.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 July 2005
	We have provided, in the Immigration Rules and guidance on the scheme, that participants may remain in Scotland after the initial two years as long as they meet the relevant requirements. They may apply to extend their stay in a relevant managed migration category. This could be as a work permit holder, a highly skilled migrant, a business person or a business innovator.

Homophobic Assaults

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homophobic assaults there were in London in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The requested information cannot be supplied as offences involving homophobia are not documented separately in the recorded crime series.

Homophobic Assaults

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homophobic hate crimes there have been since recording began, broken down by London borough; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The requested information cannot be supplied as offences involving homophobia are not documented separately in the recorded crime series.
	In 2001 the Metropolitan Police Service (MRS) and the Royal Holloway University of London, funded by the Home Office Targeted Policing Initiative, undertook a joint project that aimed to develop a strategic overview of hate crime information recorded by the MPS. Information about the project can be found on the MPS's website at http://www.met.police.uk/urhc/index.htm and www.met.police.uk/urhc/ho_fact6.pdf

Hunger Strikers

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to deal with hunger strikers in detention centres.

Tony McNulty: The condition of the health and well-being of those who are declining to accept their meals is being carefully monitored and managed. Food is available to all hunger strikers and they are seen daily by a medical practitioner to check their condition.

Illegal Immigrants

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recently announced figures for people estimated to be illegally in the country included dependants; and what methodology was used to calculate the total.

Tony McNulty: The estimate of the size unauthorised (illegal) population contained in RDS online report 29/05Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 includes foreign born dependants. The methodology used is described on pages two to four of the report.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Complaints Audit Committee produced in 2004; and how many complaints were made to it.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) independent Complaints Audit Committee (CAC) produced four quarterly reports following their audit of complaints completed during 200304. Their annual report for 200304 was published on 20 July 2004. Copies of the report were put in the Library of the House. It is also available on the IND's website.
	The CAC do not deal with complaints. Their remit is to monitor the effectiveness of IND's procedures for investigating formal complaints about the conduct and efficiency of staff in IND, and since 1999 to comment on quality of service issues.
	The CAC's annual report for 200405 was published on 29 June 2005; copies are available in the Library.

Licensed Premises (Violent Crime)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 764W, on Licensed Premises (violent crime), when he expects the statistics for violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises in each police area for 200405 to be available.

Hazel Blears: Data are expected to be available in autumn 2005.

Live8 Concert (Policing)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the commissioner for the Metropolitan police regarding the use of police officers from other forces to help police theLive8 concert; and what additional funding his Department will provide to meet these costs.

Hazel Blears: No discussions have been held with the commissioner, who is responsible for the operations of the Metropolitan Police Service.
	He informs me that policing the 'Live 8' concert in Hyde Park involved a joint operation by the service and the British Transport police. No mutual aid from other forces will be required. No additional funding will be sought from the Government and, because of the charitable nature of the event, no charges will be levied on the organisers of the event.

Methadone

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the size of the black market in methadone in the UK.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 28 June 2005
	The Home Office has not made any estimate of the size of the black market in methadone although it is predicted to be very small, as production is strictly regulated.

Metropolitan Police

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will rank each London borough Metropolitan Police Service by (a) number of officers, (b) number of crimes, (c) number of cases detected and (d) percentage of cases detected.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		Number of police officers(70), recorded offences and detections by Metropolitan Police Service basic command units (BCUs), 200304
		
			 BCU unit Number of police officers(70) Number of offences Number of detections Percentage of offences detected 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 384 22,144 3,718 17 
			 Barnet 541 36,288 4,930 14 
			 Bexley 338 20,344 3,117 15 
			 Brent 683 35,837 5,212 15 
			 Bromley 459 30,918 5,108 17 
			 Camden 794 51,016 8,476 17 
			 City of Westminster 1,637 79,296 13,961 18 
			 Croydon 659 37,043 5,463 15 
			 Ealing 697 37,927 6,006 16 
			 Enfield 538 29,998 4,344 14 
			 Greenwich 583 31,347 4,127 13 
			 Hackney 766 39,035 5,184 13 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 516 28,650 4,678 16 
			 Haringey 682 36,807 7,494 20 
			 Harrow 333 18,430 2,680 15 
			 Havering 343 22,165 3,614 16 
			 Heathrow 399 6,071 1,601 26 
			 Hillingdon 484 29,349 4,399 15 
			 Hounslow 472 30,416 4,593 15 
			 Islington 680 40,816 6,190 15 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 575 29,873 5,113 17 
			 Kingston upon Thames 275 16,309 2,299 14 
			 Lambeth 941 49,937 7,748 16 
			 Lewisham 625 31,577 5,220 17 
			 Merton 339 18,738 3,246 17 
			 Newham 781 40,615 5,613 14 
			 Redbridge 440 28,438 4,065 14 
			 Richmond upon Thames 285 15,446 2,079 13 
			 Southwark 869 46,276 6,043 13 
			 Sutton 280 16,154 2,453 15 
			 Tower Hamlets 760 39,188 4,625 12 
			 Waltham Forest 533 30,912 4,237 14 
			 Wandsworth 612 33,567 5,317 16 
			 Total 19,304 1,060,927 162,953 15 
		
	
	(70)This excludes police officers seconded out to central services but includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Metropolitan Police

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the pension and other benefits packages offered to new police constables joining the Metropolitan police in London are.

Hazel Blears: Police officers joining the Metropolitan Police Service become members of the Police Pensions Scheme, unless they opt out. The starting salary of a police constable is 19,803. Metropolitan police officers are additionally entitled to London weighting at 1,938 a year and London allowance at 4,338 a year.

Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on recouping the costs of bed and board incurred during imprisonment from the compensation moneys paid to people wrongly imprisoned due to miscarriages of justice.

Fiona Mactaggart: While the Home Secretary decides whether an applicant qualifies for compensation in respect of a miscarriage of justice, the assessment of the amount of compensation is undertaken by an Assessor appointed by him under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (currently Lord Brennan QC). The amount of an award is wholly a matter for the Assessor, and the Home Secretary has no power to influence or vary his determination.
	Saved living expenses for the period an applicant spent in prison are frequently referred to, incorrectly, as deductions for bed and board or board and lodging. The compensation process involves two separate and distinct concepts of loss: pecuniary and non-pecuniary loss. The pecuniary element, the quantifiable financial loss, is intended to put the applicant back into the financial position they would have been in but for their wrongful conviction, but not to a position better than that. Any deduction for saved living expenses is made by the Assessor in respect of the costs an applicant would have been required to pay out of their net income, for example rent or mortgage payments. The deduction is restricted to the pecuniary loss element only, and is not intended to cover optional or enhanced expenditure, such as luxuries and leisure activities. A minimal monthly expenditure is therefore deducted.
	The non-pecuniary loss award, however, is in recognition of, for example, loss of reputation, loss of liberty, hardship, mental suffering, injury to feelings, and inconvenience. It is an award in recognition of the miscarriage of justice itself.

Missing Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 766W, on missing children, what assessment his Department has made of the viability of collecting this information.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has no plans to collect this information centrally. However, we have been working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Missing Persons Helpline to establish joint working arrangements to improve the recording and information sharing and exchange, in order to improve the way in which missing persons are dealt with. Part of this work includes the establishment of a comprehensive national police database of missing and unidentified people reported either to the police or the helpline.

Motoring Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were convicted of motoring offences in (i)Southend, (ii) Essex and (iii) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

Hazel Blears: The information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is contained in the tables and gives the number of males and females found guilty of motoring offences by offence class in Southend, Essex police force area and England and Wales 1999 to 2003. Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty of motoring offences by gender and offence class at all courts in England and Wales, 1999 to 2003(71)
		
			  Males 
			 Offence class 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Dangerous driving 3,871 3,974 4,046 4,760 5,236 
			 Driving etc, after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 71,637 68,762 68,185 72,444 74,242 
			 Careless driving 29,180 25,187 22,486 19,890 18,115 
			 Accident offences 4,994 4,640 4,881 4,808 5,078 
			 Driving licence related offences 37,800 37,931 39,259 42,169 49,580 
			 Vehicle insurance offences 149,478 153,891 151,229 163,823 185,285 
			 Vehicle registration and Excise licence offences 7,734 8,899 10,522 14,763 18,841 
			 Work record or employment offences 4,709 4,197 3,503 2,931 2,654 
			 Operator's licence offences 1,132 1,183 901 712 522 
			 Vehicle Test offences 19,378 15,878 13,573 12,295 13,367 
			 Fraud, forgery, etc associated with vehicle or driver record 3,737 3,177 3,220 3,039 2,973 
			 Vehicle, or part, in dangerous or defective condition 13,740 10,950 8,704 7,284 6,656 
			 Speed limit offences 125,076 113,660 107,890 97,640 109,664 
			 Motorway offence (other than speeding) 1,260 1,816 1,330 1,612 1,101 
			 Neglect of traffic directions 21,344 21,566 19,837 17,842 17,387 
			 Neglect of pedestrian rights 3,597 2,696 2,174 1,823 1,901 
			 Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 11,454 9,606 8,986 8,710 9,088 
			 Lighting offences 3,904 2,913 2,274 2,146 2,071 
			 Noise offences 1,011 756 646 467 419 
			 Load offences 8,117 7,764 6,274 5,083 5,180 
			 Offences peculiar to motor cycles 210 255 258 218 224 
			 Miscellaneous offences (including trailer offences) 33,722 31,390 29,993 34,650 46,892 
			 Total 557,085 531,091 510,171 519,109 576,476 
		
	
	
		
			  Females 
			 Offence class 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Dangerous driving 137 116 128 155 215 
			 Driving etc, after consuming alcohol or taking drugs 7,868 7,984 7,924 8,989 9,539 
			 Careless driving 6,017 5,280 4,394 3,875 3,406 
			 Accident offences 758 803 813 783 884 
			 Driving licence related offences 2,729 2,882 2,695 2,914 3,512 
			 Vehicle Insurance Offences 17,813 18,282 16,916 18,988 22,008 
			 Vehicle registration and Excise licence offences 1,682 2,106 2,478 3,959 4,916 
			 Work record or employment offences 92 65 71 40 44 
			 Operator's licence offences 40 35 28 28 25 
			 Vehicle test offences 2,407 1,984 1,542 1,503 1,581 
			 Fraud, forgery, etc associated with vehicle or driver record 338 282 293 285 272 
			 Vehicle, or part, in dangerous or defective condition 1,068 840 687 647 519 
			 Speed limit offences 20,500 20,443 21,178 21,147 24,262 
			 Motorway offence (other than speeding) 116 277 158 184 100 
			 Neglect of traffic directions 4,254 4,407 4,151 4,016 3,799 
			 Neglect of pedestrian rights 630 542 415 390 360 
			 Obstruction, waiting and parking offences 3,141 2,636 2,605 2,570 2,729 
			 Lighting offences 342 299 250 237 220 
			 Noise offences 83 87 53 45 30 
			 Load offences 210 198 175 140 130 
			 Offences peculiar to motor cycles 11 17 17 14 17 
			 Miscellaneous offences (including trailer offences) 6,869 7,584 7,107 7,856 9,467 
			 Total 77,105 77,149 74,078 78,765 88,035 
		
	
	(71)These data are on the principal offence basis

Mr. Crispen Kulinsi

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will defer the enforced return of Mr. Crispen Kulinsi (Home Office ref K1188546) to Malawi pending consideration by his Department of the risks of Mr. Kulinsi's further deportation from Malawi to Zimbabwe.

Tony McNulty: It is not our usual practice to disclose information about an individual's immigration case to anybody other than their nominated representatives or constituency MP.

Murder Rate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the murder rate per 1,000 of the population in (a) the constituency of Southend, West and (b) England and Wales was in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Figures are provided for homicide (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) as, at the time of recording, the nature of the killing is often not known. Information for Southend, West is not available. The available data relates to the Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area and homicide data at CDRP level has only been collected since 200102. Available data are given in the following table.
	
		Homicide rate per 1,000 population
		
			  200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Southend
			 Homicide 5 6 2 
			 Rate/1,000 population 0.028 0.037 0.013 
			 
			 England and Wales
			 Homicide 891 (72)1,043 853 
			 Rate/1,000 population 0.017 0.020 0.016 
		
	
	(72)In 200203, 172 victims of Dr. Harold Shipman were recorded, all of which relate to offences committed in previous years.

Nazi War Criminals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department's information held on alleged Nazi war criminals includes information on any persons who were formerly detained in the category known as black prisoners of war during the second world war; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information of this nature is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) cars, (b) vans, (c) trucks, (d) motor cycles, (e) push bicycles and (f) horses are operated by Lancashire police.

Hazel Blears: The chief constable is responsible for the operational management of the force. I will ensure that he receives a copy of the question and replies to my hon. Friend directly in response to my hon. Friend's concerns.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet a cross-party delegation from Northamptonshire, including hon. Members, to discuss funding for the county police force.

Hazel Blears: We have invested strongly in local policing in Northamptonshire. This investment has delivered record police officer numbers and police support staff and an increasing number of community support officers.
	Northamptonshire Police Authority received an excellent funding settlement this year. It is receiving 67.8 million in general police grants for 200506, an increase of 3.5 million or 5.5 per cent. over last year, significantly higher than the minimum increase of 3.75 per cent. guaranteed to all police authorities. It also receives around 6.9 million in specific grants for targeted programmes.
	The police funding formula is currently being reviewed to ensure it continues to reflect fairly the relative financial pressures on each police authority. We expect a 12 week consultation period on options for formula change to begin in late July with the aim of introducing a revised formula in 200607. The consultation will provide an opportunity for all interested parties to comment on a range of proposals.
	Grant floors will continue to remain an integral part of the finance system to provide a financially stable system for all police authorities.

Police

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to remove the floor damping scheme for police authority grant funding for 200607 and beyond.

Hazel Blears: Grant damping provisions to provide a financially stable system for all police authorities will continue to remain an integral part of the grant system in 200607. The general grant floor of 3.75 per cent. this year guaranteed a minimum increase for all police authorities, well above both police pay and inflationary pressures. Northamptonshire Police Authority received an increase above the floor, at 5.5 per cent.

Pre-sentence Reports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to the Probation Service on the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Fiona Mactaggart: Minimum standards for the preparation of pre-sentence reports are outlined in the National Probation Service National Standards. Supplementing the National Standards, detailed guidance has been issued to the Probation Service through a Probation Circular. Both these documents were published in March 2005.

Prisoners (Deportation)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in London are held awaiting deportation having completed their sentences.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments awaiting deportation after completing their sentence is not available.
	Work is ongoing to improve the quality of the data held on those people detained under the Immigration Act powers in prison establishments.

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison staff were diagnosed as suffering from tuberculosis in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff died from the disease.

Fiona Mactaggart: In the last year one member of staff contracted tuberculosis from which he later died. Tests have confirmed that he did not contract the disease from within the Prison Service.

Prisons

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken following the recommendation in 2004 of HM Inspectorate of Prisons that the female centre at HMP Durham be closed down; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: An announcement was made on 26 May 2004 that the women's unit at HMP Durham was to close.
	By October 2004, 97 female prisoners previously held at HMP Durham were interviewed by the Women's Estate Management Team and relocated in a phased process to an area appropriate to their security status and resettlement needs, or were released at the end of their sentence. Only six female prisoners remain there, of whom five are Restricted Status.
	A discrete unit within Durham was converted to accommodate these women, who will remain there while alternative facilities are being developed at another establishment. The former women's unit has now been adapted to accommodate male prisoners.

Prisons

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places there were in prisons in London in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of places in London prisons over the last five years
		
			  Total operational capacity 
		
		
			 2000 6,592 
			 2001 6,657 
			 2002 6,859 
			 2003 7,023 
			 2004 7,108 
			 2005 7,463 
		
	
	Note:
	Operational capacity has been used to represent the number of places. It is defined as the total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold without serious risk to good order, security, and the proper running of the planned regime.

Probation Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken in the last two financial years to improve the health and safety of staff at probation hostels in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy was launched by the Director General of Probation in March 2003. This followed a national audit on the levels of compliance with health and safety legislation in the 42 probation areas. This strategy has improved health and safety in probation hostels by introducing a national accident/incident recording system, by the prioritisation of the identification of asbestos and providing risk assessments with management guidance and best practice.
	The National Probation Service has also been working in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive, Probation Boards Association and trade unions in order to develop and implement a first class health and safety management system.

Religious Premises (Vandalism)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many acts of vandalism on (a) synagogues, (b) mosques, (c) churches, (d) temples and (e) Gurdwaras were reported in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available. Apart from criminal damage to a dwelling, the recorded crime statistics do not separately identify the location of acts of vandalism.

School-age Children (Protection from Crime)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that children who are taken out of schools do not become victims of crime; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Where there are concerns about children removed from schools these will normally be pursued through the local education authority. In some cases these concerns will be sufficient to warrant police involvement. For example, the Metropolitan police investigation into the 'Adam' case found that a number of African boys were missing from education. However, police inquiries in conjunction with Education Welfare Officers established that there was no evidence to suggest these children had come to any harm.

Sentencing

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he collects on the average sentence imposed for similar crimes in different police and courts' service areas; and for which crimes such information is available.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on sentence lengths for all crimes are collected in all criminal justice and petty-sessional areas. Selected data are published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Sentencing Statistics and in the Criminal Statistics Supplementary Volumes. The Sentencing Statistics Bulletin for 2003, published in February 2005, includes the average sentences for major offence groups such as violence against the person, sexual offences, etc. for individual areas. The Criminal Statistics Supplementary Volumes provide more detailed information for individual offences.

Speed Cameras

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been raised from speed cameras in each of the last five years; how much of this money has been retained by road safety partnerships; and how much has been kept by the Government.

Hazel Blears: While information is not available on the amount of fines paid following speed offences detected by camera, table A shows the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid for the offence of 'speeding detected by camera' in the calendar years 1999 to 2003 (latest available). Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid. Information for 2004 will be available in early 2006.
	I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport that the revenue figures for the National Safety Camera Programme in England and Wales are available from the start of the netting-off scheme as given in table B. The table shows data by financial year and indicates the number of Safety Camera Partnerships participating in the programme at each stage. It is only fixed penalty income from offences detected by cameras within the national scheme that can be netted off. Except where special provisions apply, such as have been made for supporting the operation of approved safety camera, the whole of offenders' fines normally accrue to the Consolidated Fund.
	Details of programme funding for 200001 to 200203 are given in The national safety camera programmethree-year evaluation report, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, and are available from the Department for Transport website.
	
		Table A: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(73) England and Wales, 1999 to 2003 -- Number of offences
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings(74) 
			  Number of tickets(75) Estimated revenue(76)() Number of fines Total amount of fine () Average fine () 
		
		
			 1999 423,000 16,920,000 32,300 3,434,000 106 
			 2000 599,200 25,965,000 31,800 3,400,000 107 
			 2001 877,500 52,650,000 40,500 4,510,000 111 
			 2002 1,135,000 68,122,000 46,300 4,778,000 103 
			 2003 1,657,000 99,423,000 61,300 6,572,000 107 
		
	
	1 Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	2 Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court. 3 Only covers tickets paid where there is no further action. 4 Estimate based on 40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. Raised to 60 from November 2000.
	
		Table B: Revenue figures for the National Safety Camera Programme in England and Wales, 200001 to 200304(73) -- 
		
			 Year and (number of partnerships participating in programme) Receipts from fixed penalties Expenditure Balance, accruing to the Consolidated Fund 
		
		
			 200001 10,362,440 8,985,247 1,367,193 
			 (7 partnerships)
			 
			 200102 19,660,780 16,106,559 3,554,221 
			 (7 partnership, 14 from October 2001)
			 
			 200203 68,872,320 54,256,502 14,615,818 
			 (23 partnerships, 25 from July 2002, 29 from October 2002)
			 
			 200304 (Provisional) 112,200,000 91,800,000 20,400,000 
			 (35 partnerships)

UK Citizenship

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English in each of the last 10 years, broken down by nationality.

Tony McNulty: The latest available statistics on the number of people that have been refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English in the last 10 years can be found in the table.
	Data for 1995 to 2001 do not include nationality data as this was not reported at the time.
	Information on grants of UK citizenship is published annually in the Home Office bulletin Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, available on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		Person refused UK citizenship based on an insufficient standard of English, 1995 to 2004
		
			 Nationality 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Afghanistan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) n/a 
			 Algeria n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) 
			 Angola n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Argentina n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bangladesh n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 5 n/a 
			 BosniaHerzegovina n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Colombia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Eritrea n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Ethopia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Former Yugoslavia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 India n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) n/a 
			 Iran n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Iraq n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) (73) n/a 
			 Lebanon n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Pakistan n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) (73) 
			 Peoples republic of China n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Somalia n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) 
			 Thailand n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Turkey n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 10 15 10 
			 Vietnam n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a (73) n/a n/a 
			 Stateless n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total 25 30 50 55 30 25 20 20 20 10 
		
	
	n/a=Data unavailable.
	(73)Negligible (i.e. two or less).
	Note:
	Data is rounded to nearest five.

UK-US Data Transfer

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether UK data on criminal convictions are made available to United States customs and immigration agents; and on what basis.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no arrangements for routinely supplying UK criminal record information to US customs and immigration authorities. However, information may be shared between agencies during joint criminal investigations.

Vehicle Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals in England and Wales have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted in relation to failing to register their vehicles in their name in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible from the information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database to identify prosecutions for the specific offence of failing to register a vehicle separately from other types of offences under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.

Victims of Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been the victims of crime in (a) Southend, West constituency, (b) Essex, (c) Greater London and (d) England and Wales in the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Apart from specific sexual offences, it is not possible to identify the age of the victim in the recorded crime statistics.

Victims of Crime

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the victims of serious crime can take to prevent the perpetrators of such crimes from coming near their homes while on (a) temporary release, (b) conditional release and (c) permanent release.

Fiona Mactaggart: The national probation service has a statutory duty to work with victims of sexual or violent offences where the offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This duty was conferred under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and is soon to be extended, under the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004, to the victims of mentally disordered offenders.
	Victims are provided with a single point of contact with the probation service, through Victim Liaison Officers (VLOs), from whom they can receive information about key stages in an offender's sentence, such as temporary leave and release on licence.
	Many victims of serious crime will have concerns about an offender approaching them or their home once released from prison. The victim contact scheme provides an opportunity for victims to request that conditions be attached to an offender's licence on conditional release. These conditions may specify, for example, that the offender is not allowed to have any contact with the victim and may establish exclusion zones into which the offender is not allowed, such as the areas around the victim's house or place of work. Victims who have concerns about the risk posed to them by an offender on either temporary or conditional release can discuss their concerns with the VLO who can use this information in reports to the prison governor or Parole Board.
	When an offender is released on licence, he/she will be subject to supervision by the probation service. During the period of the licence, the VLO will maintain contact with a victim and the victim's family. If victims have concerns about the offender breaching conditions not to contact them or entering an exclusion zone, they should inform the VLO who will in turn notify the offender's supervising officer. If the concerns are substantiated, the offender will either be warned about his/her behaviour, or recalled to custody if it is thought he/she presents an unacceptable risk of harm to the public and there is evidence he/she has breached the licence conditions.

Worker Registration Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have commissioned research into the efficiency of the worker registration scheme; and how many people have registered with the scheme since 1 May 2004, broken down by country.

Tony McNulty: No research into the efficiency of the scheme has yet been commissioned. The scheme will be reviewed after two years of its operation.

Young Offenders

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalties have been imposed on the contractors for (a) Hassockfield, (b) Medway, (c) Rainsbrook and (d) Oakhill secure training centres in each financial year that each centre has been operating; and what the reasons were for each such penalty.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The financial penalties imposed on secure training centre contractors are set out in the following tables:
	
		Financial penalties(74) imposed on secure training centre contractorsRainsbrook secure training centre -- 
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 19992000 155,152.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200001 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200102 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200203 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200304 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200405 0.00 333.13 0.00 
		
	
	
		Hassockfield secure training centre -- 
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 19992000 35,759.20 10,014.87 738.03 
			 200001 0.00 14,788.62 6,933.38 
			 200102 0.00 6,337.98 0.00 
			 200203 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200304 0.00 0.00 606.06 
			 200405 0.00 0.00 0.00 
		
	
	
		Medway secure training centre -- 
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 199899 0.00 605,990 43,290 
			 19992000 0.00 87,759 17,812 
			 200001 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 200102 0.00 114,238 0.00 
			 200203 0.00 36,359 5,416 
			 200304 0.00 0.00 54,000.32 
			 200405 0.00 0.00 37,085 
		
	
	
		Oakhill secure training centre -- 
		
			  Liquidated damages for late opening of centre Non-availability of places Performance points(75) 
		
		
			 199899 n/a n/a n/a 
			 19992000 n/a n/a n/a 
			 200001 n/a n/a n/a 
			 200102 n/a n/a n/a 
			 200203 n/a n/a n/a 
			 200304 n/a n/a n/a 
			 200405 311,994.80 572,119.84 0 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	(74)All figures are exclusive of VAT
	(75)Performance points are awarded for failure to deliver specific services.

Young Offenders

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fees are paid by the Youth Justice Board for a bed in (a) a local authority secure children's home, (b) secure training centre and (c) a Young Offenders Institution.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The latest average daily costs per place calculated by the Youth Justice Board are as follows: young offender institution138; secure training centre396; and local authority secure children's home526. These are average costs. Actual payments vary according to a range of factors, including occupancy levels at establishments and regional variations.

Young People (Secure Training Centres)

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the young people admitted from each secure training centre to hospital in each of the last four years had been involved in incidents in which restraint techniques were used on them during (a) the previous 24 hours and (b) the previous week.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the following table are based on information supplied by the secure training centre operators.
	
		Admissions to hospital of secure training centre trainees following restraint during (a) previous 24 hours (b) previous week
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 1 January-27 May 2005 
			 STC (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) 
		
		
			 Medway 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Rainsbrook(76) 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hassockfield 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Oakhill(77)   0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(76)Rainsbrook 2004 figures do not include Gareth Myatt, who was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital following a restraint incident on 19 April.
	(77)Oakhill opened 19 August 2004

Young People (Secure Training Centres)

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions young people have been admitted to hospital from each secure training centre in each of the last four years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the following table are based on information supplied by the secure training centre operators.
	
		Admissions to hospital of secure training centre trainees 200105
		
			 STC Medway Rainsbrook Hassockfield Oakhill(78) 
		
		
			 2001 2 2 0  
			 2002 2 4 1  
			 2003 2 3 1  
			 2004 3 (79)5 2 0 
			 1 January-27 May 2005 2 1 0 0 
		
	
	(78)Oakhill opened 19 August 2004
	(79)Rainsbrook 2004 figures do not include Gareth Myatt, who was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital following a restraint incident on 19 April.

Young People (Secure Training Centres)

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the young people admitted to hospital from each secure training centre in each of the last four years were admitted due to (a) illness and (b) non-accidental injuries.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the following table are based on information supplied by the secure training centre operators.
	
		Admissions to hospital 200105
		
			 STC Medway Rainsbrook Hassockfield Oakhill(80) 
		
		
			 Due to illness
			 2001 2 1 0  
			 2002 1 2 1  
			 2003 1 2 0  
			 2004 (81)2 4 1 0 
			 Up to 27 May 2005 (82)2 1 0 0 
			  
			 Due to non accidental injuries 
			 2001 0 1 0  
			 2002 1 0 0  
			 2003 1 0 0  
			 2004 1 0 0 0 
			 Up to 27 May 2005 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(80)Oakhill opened 19 August 2004.
	(81)Includes one termination of pregnancy.
	(82)Includes one termination of pregnancy.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Advertising Expenditure

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the (a) Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible has spent on advertising, broken down by media type in the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	The total expenditure by (a) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on advertising media is as follows:
	
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 TV 2,829,248 2,879,286 3,216,961 
			 Radio 303,581 90,508 407,795 
			 Press 214,114 709,205 372,924 
			 Other 0 808,011 1,041,190 
			 Total 3,346,943 4,487,010 5,038,870 
		
	
	Figures for (b) non-departmental bodies are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Aston Down

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his decision to order an environmental impact assessment on Aston Down; and what representations he has received on the matter.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The applicants requested the Secretary of State's screening direction on the matter of whether or not the application made to Stroud district council is an 'EIA application' within the meaning of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999.
	The Secretary of State issued a screening direction on 11 May 2005. In the opinion of the Secretary of State, taking into account the selection criteria in schedule 3 to the 1999 regulations, the proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its nature and location. The development proposed, namely, change of use of buildings to a mix of classes B1, B2, B8, and sui generis uses falls within thedescription at paragraph (10)(a) of schedule 2 to the 1999 regulations. The reason for this conclusion is the proposal is for an industrial estate development on a site in excess of 0.5 hectares. Since the proposal exceeds the threshold in column 2 of the table in schedule 2 to the 1999 regulations and is located in a sensitive area, theSecretary of State considers the application to be a 'Schedule 2 application' within the meaning of the 1999 regulations.
	However, the Secretary of State's opinion on the likelihood of the development having significant environmental effects is reached only for the purposes of the screening direction. Since a further planning application is expected in respect of this site, it is possible that the site will come before the First Secretary of State in the future either as the subject of a call-in or on appeal, therefore any comments regarding the merits of any proposal for the site could prejudice the First Secretary of State's position.
	Representations were received from English Nature, the Aston Down Action Group and from members of the public.

Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who gave the approval for Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder to commission an area planning consultation from the Beyond Green consultancy on the area around the former Newcastle Brewery; what the cost was of the commission; whether Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder knew that the same consultancy was also conducting planning consultations for a major developer in the area; and what protocols regarding the avoidance of conflicts of interest applied.

Yvette Cooper: Discussions on individual projects are devolved to the board of the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder and do not require approval from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The pathfinder has standard processes for appraisal and approval of projects. No information on this project is held centrally.

Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the members of the (a) Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder Board and (b) North East Regional Housing Board are; if he will place in the Library a copy of the declaration of interest by each member; and whether each organisation is required to have board meetings open to the public.

Yvette Cooper: Membership of the Bridging Newcastle Gateshead Pathfinder Board is:
	Leo Finn (Chair)
	Cllr Greg Stone, Cabinet Member, Newcastle City Council
	Steve Dunlop, Director, Newcastle City Council
	Cllr David Napier, Cabinet Member, Gateshead Council
	Sheila Johnston, Director, Gateshead Council
	Douglas Taylor, Newcastle and Whitley Housing Trust, LSP Newcastle
	Pauline Nelson, Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council, LSP Gateshead
	Pat Ritchie, One NorthEast
	Malcolm Levi, Home Group
	Mike Smith, Northern Rock
	Donald Urquhart, English Partnerships
	Eric Morgan, Sanderson Weatherall
	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Observer)
	Government Office for the North East (Observer)
	Housing Corporation (Observer)
	Board members are asked to declare interests at the beginning of each meeting and withdraw from discussion where appropriate. Records of declarations of interest are not held centrally.
	Board meetings are not open to the public although it is proposed that the board should in future following board meetings provide information on its website.
	Membership of the North East Regional Housing Board is:
	Jonathan Blackie, Chair, Regional Director Government Office for the North East
	Neil Bradbury, English Partnerships
	Cllr Bob Brady, Association of North East Councils
	John Carleton, Housing Corporation
	Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, One NorthEast
	Leo Finn, Chair of Bridging Newcastle Gateshead
	Jolyon Harrison, House Builders Federation
	Arthur Cross, The North East Council of Tenants and Residents (NECTAR)
	Cllr Alan Napier, North East Assembly
	The terms of reference for board members relating to declaration of interest are:
	It is the responsibility of all Board, Executive and related Task Group members to declare any personal interest in matters being considered, eg, issues which may result in financial gain to them.
	Upon declaration of an interest the member will be expected to withdraw from that part of the meeting unless decided otherwise by the majority of members in attendance.
	There have been no declarations of interest.
	Meetings of the board are not open to the public but the minutes of meetings are publicly available on the North East Housing board website at www.nehb.org.uk

Canal Boats

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how moving canal boats which are a primary residence will be assessed for council tax purposes under the council tax revaluation.

Phil Woolas: Boats are not in themselves subject to council tax. A mooring occupied by a boat which is somebody's sole or main residence is deemed to be a dwelling for council tax purposes and will therefore attract a council tax liability in the same way as other domestic types of property. A dwelling consisting of a mooring which is not occupied by a boat is exempt from council tax.

Community Housing Task Force

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the private sector makes a contribution to the (a) costs and (b) salaries of his Community Housing Task Force.

Yvette Cooper: No.

Community Housing Task Force

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have left the Housing Task Force since its inception; and how many of them have gone into the private sector.

Yvette Cooper: Since its inception, eight people have left the Community Housing Task Force, three of whom have gone into the private sector, one to a housing association, and two as consultants.

Community Housing Task Force

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) councils, (b) registered social landlords and (c) private sector investors are charged for the services of his Department's Housing Task Force.

Yvette Cooper: No.

Community Housing Task Force

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in what circumstances the Housing Task Force advises councils to announce tenant ballots ahead of schedule.

Yvette Cooper: The Community Housing Task Force refer authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Transfer Manual 2005 Programme which gives guidance on the procedures to be followed during the consultation process.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many consultants and tenants' advisers consulted by councils on housing options have recommended against transfer; and to which councils.

Yvette Cooper: Consultants and tenants' advisers do not make recommendations on housing options.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department keeps a list of consultants for councils considering their housing options; and what criteria determine which consultants are on the list.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister keeps a list of consultants for training and networking purposes. This is occasionally shared with councils when requested. No recommendations are made.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has paid in gap funding and to how many registered social landlords taking over council housing.

Yvette Cooper: To date one payment of 7.65 million has been made to Shoreline Housing Partnership.

Council Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the number and value of council housing properties transferred to (a) registered social landlords and (b) arm's length management organisations since 1999.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1999 approximately 639,000 council dwellings have been transferred to registered social landlords at a total gross transfer price of approximately 3 billion. Proposals to pass the management of 796,000 dwellings to arm's length management organisations (ALMOs) have been approved since the programme was launched in 2001. It is not possible to estimate the value of the stock managed by ALMOs. As the stock remains in the ownership of the local authority, a valuation does not have to be carried out when an ALMO is set up.

Council Tax

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assumed national council tax figure was used by central government in each year since the introduction of the council tax.

Phil Woolas: Assumed national council tax (ANCT) was introduced in 200304. Before that, council tax for standard spending (CTSS) was used in an analogous way. The annual figures used are set out in the table.
	
		
			  National band D CTSS/ANCT 
		
		
			 199394 492.62 
			 199495 527.40 
			 199596 551.55 
			 199697 568.94 
			 199798 593.09 
			 199899 634.62 
			 19992000 664.88 
			 200001 695.54 
			 200102 730.89 
			 200203 769.16 
			 200304 1,037.46 
			 200405 1,061.46 
			 200506 1,101.96

Council Tax

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the council tax for a band E house in (a) each London borough and (b) each local authority in Essex is; and what the comparable figures for each of the last three years for which figures are available were.

Phil Woolas: Details of the council tax for a band E property in (a) each London borough and (b) each local authority in Essex for the last four years are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found under the heading Information For TaxpayersCouncil Tax at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm

Departmental Requests

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal guidance produced by his Department for its staff on handling (a) written parliamentary question requests, (b) Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests and (c) requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Answers to parliamentary questions are drafted in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance to officials on drafting answers to parliamentary questions, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. In addition, guidance is available to officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on the processing of parliamentary questions, including written questions. A copy of that guidance has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Guidance issued to ODPM officials on handling requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 has been placed in the Library of the House.

Development Tariffs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the South East Regional Assembly's proposals for development tariffs across the South East.

Yvette Cooper: We understand that the South East England Regional Assembly is still in the process of developing and refining its proposals in respect of development tariffs and we have not yet seen the details of the proposals.

Domestic Violence

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many refuge places for victims of domestic violence there are in England; how many (a) women, (b) children and (c) men stayed in them in the last year for which figures are available; and how much central Government funding was made available to such refuges in that year.

Phil Woolas: Through the Supporting People programme information is collected by the Department from administering authorities on the number of units of support available to women who are at risk of domestic violence. A unit is either accommodation based, including places within a women's refuge, or a service that allows the victim to remain in their own accommodation where appropriate. At April 2003, there were 5,831 units of support for women at risk of domestic violence, of which 3,523 were accommodation based and 2,308 were other support services. No information is collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on the number of men who are victims of domestic violence.
	Information is also collected by the ODPM from service providers on the number of new clients accessing services through the Supporting People programme, including the number of women who are at risk of domestic violence and the type of service provided to them. Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 some 22,200 women, with around 24,000 children, who accessed a service through Supporting People were at risk of domestic violence. Of these 22,000, 14,000 were placed in a women's refuge and 4,400 received other support. The remainder received other types of service.
	In 200304 over 50 million was allocated by local authorities through the Supporting People programme for housing-related support for victims of domestic violence.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All procurement in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is undertaken in line with the EC's procurement rules and to obtain value for money.
	However, British products are used where possible, and we will certainly be considering British produce for events planned in connection with the Presidency.

E-projects (Funding)

Robert Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of the Environment and Community Online Residents E-Services project has been in each year since it was established.

Phil Woolas: The Environment and Community Online Resident E-Services National e-Government project was allocated a total of 3.5 million in 200304. To date the project has claimed a total of 2,561,724.51. This includesfor 200304no payment, 2004051,604,012.10 and 200506957,712.41.

Fire-related Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths in dwellings in (a) Southend and (b) Essex there were in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following information is as follows:
	(a) Information for Southend is not held centrally.
	(b) Information on the number of deaths in dwellings fires attended by Essex fire and rescue service is shown in the following table.
	
		Fire-related deaths in dwellings in Essex, 1997 to 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 14 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 6 
			 2000 10 
			 2001 6 
			 2002 7 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 (Provisional) 6 
		
	
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

HMOs (Licence Fees)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what his Department's most recent estimate is of the sum which will be raised from houses in multiple occupation licensing fees; and what methodology was used to make the estimate;
	(2)  what arrangements he will put in place to ensure houses in multiple occupation licence fees set by local authorities only recover costs; and when he expects these arrangements to be in place.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 308W.

Home Assessment Ratings

Brian Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes in the (a) public sector and (b) private sector have standard assessment procedure ratings that fall into the (i) 020, (ii) 2040, (iii) 4060 and (iv) above 60 bands.

Yvette Cooper: The number of homes with specified standard assessment procedure (SAP) ratings in the public and private housing sectors is provided in the following table, using information from 2001 (the most recent figures currently available):
	
		Table: Public and private housing sector SAP ratings (banded), 2001 -- Thousands of dwellings
		
			  2001 
			 SAP rating: Public Private 
		
		
			 less than 20 128 887 
			 2039 340 3,078 
			 4059 1,325 9,618 
			 60 or more 1,020 4,811 
			 all 2,812 18,395 
		
	
	Note:
	Higher SAP ratings indicate more energy efficient homes. RSL-owned dwellings have been classified as private for the purpose of this table.
	Source:
	English House Condition Survey

Homelessness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were (a) accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, (b) found to be unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category, (c) in temporary accommodation arranged by the local authority under homelessness legislation, (d) designated as homeless at home, (e) recorded as sleeping rough and (f) people on the housing register.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly and is in respect of households rather than persons. Information on the numbers on local authorities' housing registers is collected annually and is also in respect of households.
	The table presents information reported by each London borough on the number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and those found to be unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category, for each year since 200102, along with the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under homelessness legislation, plus those additionally designated homeless at home, as at 31 March of each year. Also shown is the number of households on each authority's housing register as at 1 April of each year, and the number of people who sleep roughthat is, those who were literally roofless on a single night during the year.
	The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Reported household data 200102 (April 2001 to March 2002)
		
			   Decisions(83) during year Position on 31 March 2002 
			  Housing register (at 1 April) Accepted(84) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(85) accommodation Homeless at home(86) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 211,469 29,320 12,260 46,390 5,490 357 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,157 346 385 544 0 0 
			 Barnet 6,732 1,112 517 1,710 359 0 
			 Bexley 3,596 454 678 223 39 0 
			 Brent 13,511 1,236 299 3,540 144 7 
			 Bromley 3,787 785 443 369 278 0 
			 Camden 8,614 1,120 305 1,739 198 38 
			 City of London 703 12 1 38 0 30 
			 Croydon 6,214 1,198 1,287 3,011 0 7 
			 Ealing 8,132 860 812 2,076 393 7 
			 Enfield 8,845 1,143 180 2,392 0 0 
			 Greenwich 5,869 1,217 424 279 746 0 
			 Hackney 8,307 n/a n/a n/a n/a 8,930 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,865 805 140 1,465 147 3 
			 Haringey 10,344 1,138 0 3,520 1 2 
			 Harrow 3,141 444 222 1,505 4 0 
			 Havering 1,985 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Hillingdon 5,810 1,119 425 1,895 124 0 
			 Hounslow 4,983 1,383 733 992 270 8 
			 Islington 6,427 1,428 1,181 n/a n/a 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6,150 593 121 959 4 15 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,723 n/a n/a 664 31 3 
			 Lambeth 13,115 1,470 305 1,643 410 23 
			 Lewisham 10,182 1,102 601 n/a n/a 3 
			 Merton 4,214 173 109 192 6 1 
			 Newham 11,426 1,449 315 2,296 648 8 
			 Redbridge 5,426 437 36 1,764 0 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,383 399 154 474 26 5 
			 Southwark 7,191 1,317 209 704 547 13 
			 Sutton 2,432 462 279 409 93 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,566 1,401 44 1,978 18 9 
			 Waltham Forest 8,664 1,121 381 785 107 1 
			 Wandsworth 3,120 927 450 1,217 0 0 
			 Westminster 8,855 1,176 667 2,460 292 169 
		
	
	
		Reported household data 200203 (April 2002 to March 2003)
		
			   Decisions(83) during year Position on 31 March 2003 
			  Housing register Accepted(84) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(85) accommodation Homeless at home(86) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 226,789 29,790 12,280 52,690 6,330 321 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,668 595 448 707 6 0 
			 Barnet 7,030 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Bexley 3,487 468 524 250 50 0 
			 Brent 14,746 1,039 369 3,473 143 4 
			 Bromley 3,592 865 405 589 325 0 
			 Camden 8,147 1,290 318 1,893 315 28 
			 City of London 623 31 3 32 0 41 
			 Croydon 6,890 1,291 1,345 3,450 0 6 
			 Ealing 8,289 1,001 763 2,008 360 4 
			 Enfield 7,264 1,186 279 2,678 0 0 
			 Greenwich 6,876 1,003 345 282 765 3 
			 Hackney 1,136 117 2,214 137 11  
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,044 811 159 1,659 139 4 
			 Haringey 12,585 n/a n/a n/a n/a 8 
			 Harrow 3,992 400 85 1,601 21 0 
			 Havering 1,888 180 110 379 1 0 
			 Hillingdon 6,041 933 437 1,813 168 0 
			 Hounslow 6,369 852 708 1,144 334 3 
			 Islington 8,161 1,314 1,065 1,421 n/a 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,294 410 104 940 0 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,971 448 351 718 16 0 
			 Lambeth 14,228 1,651 404 2,257 512 12 
			 Lewisham 15,368 1,170 638 1,243 613 1 
			 Merton 4,361 156 79 179 9 0 
			 Newham 13,942 1,433 200 4,208 797 0 
			 Redbridge 5,671 n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,763 325 107 538 64 6 
			 Southwark 6,164 1,827 324 732 513 2 
			 Sutton 1,653 429 346 427 51 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 7,837 1,617 51 2,446 10 2 
			 Waltham Forest 10,283 1,140 644 1,151 118 4 
			 Wandsworth 3,923 1,072 407 1,489 49 0 
			 Westminster 3,709 1,132 728 2,619 399 169 
		
	
	(83)Data shown where four quarterly returns were received, n/a denotes an authority failed to provide a return for one or more quarters.
	(84)All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
	(85)Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	(86)Households designated as homeless at home that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	Source:
	ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly) and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)
	
		Reported household data 200304 (April 2003 to March 2004)
		
			   Decisions(87) during year Position on 31 March 2004 
			  Housing register (as at 1 April) Accepted(88) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(89) accommodation Homeless at home(90) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 242,389 30,080 14,690 58,820 5,630 267 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,018 667 371 789 0 0 
			 Barnet 8,738 1,084 1,663 1,960 241 0 
			 Bexley 4,265 365 468 321 35 0 
			 Brent 13,425 897 363 4,208 96 0 
			 Bromley 3,556 873 528 720 277 0 
			 Camden 8,961 1,648 409 2,166 450 13 
			 City of London 679 22 13 25 1 36 
			 Croydon 6,425 1,240 1,596 3,545 6 0 
			 Ealing 10,763 1,094 859 2,009 287 0 
			 Enfield 9,496 1,085 249 2,963 n/a 0 
			 Greenwich 7,753 1,246 447 378 575 0 
			 Hackney 10,529 n/a n/a 2,270 251 7 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,665 644 196 1,781 92 2 
			 Haringey 14,264 n/a n/a 4,774 0 6 
			 Harrow 3,281 264 101 1,458 7 0 
			 Havering 1,962 452 165 819 42 0 
			 Hillingdon 5,507 735 234 1,873 98 0 
			 Hounslow 5,952 691 121 1,130 362 0 
			 Islington 8,566 n/a n/a 1,438 n/a 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7,872 476 153 965 0 6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,137 418 398 840 24 0 
			 Lambeth 11,140 1,545 774 1,845 778 11 
			 Lewisham 15,341 1,502 602 1,640 756 0 
			 Merton 4,312 204 109 165 3 0 
			 Newham 16,228 1,519 158 5,155 151 6 
			 Redbridge 4,952 806 32 2432 n/a 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,861 316 154 534 27 6 
			 Southwark 6,757 1,540 370 926 471 17 
			 Sutton 1,662 312 374 538 27 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 10,979 1,657 267 2,900 23 11 
			 Waltham Forest 9,680 1,025 1,155 1,668 73 1 
			 Wandsworth 5,072 1,036 600 1,644 31 0 
			 Westminster 6,591 1,117 713 2,944 n/a 133 
		
	
	
		Reported household data 200405 (April 2004 to March 2005)
		
			   Decisions(87) during year Position on 31 March 2005 
			  Housing register (as at 1 April) Accepted(88) as owed a main duty Not in priority need Temporary(89) accommodation Homeless at home(90) Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 London 279,729 26,730 12,650 61,990 4,670 265 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,149 775 223 474 1 0 
			 Barnet 10,732 758 1,526 2,334 270 0 
			 Bexley 4,404 430 536 377 39 0 
			 Brent 15,504 795 469 4,453 95 6 
			 Bromley 3,866 n/a n/a 451 n/a 0 
			 Camden 15,757 1,148 213 2,172 257 5 
			 City of London 914 31 5 34 2 22 
			 Croydon 8,067 1,126 1,412 3,346 3 0 
			 Ealing 12,808 789 742 2,221 405 4 
			 Enfield 12,584 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Greenwich 6,710 1,157 327 543 722 0 
			 Hackney 11,016 1,153 191 2,479 n/a 8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7,874 653 208 1,825 82 3 
			 Haringey 16,920 1,175 0 5,309 7 4 
			 Harrow 4,333 96 58 1,275 1 0 
			 Havering 2,384 200 111 814 19 0 
			 Hillingdon 6,910 461 34 1,878 17 0 
			 Hounslow 7,088 891 97 1,234 189 0 
			 Islington 6,871 1,130 750 1,550 n/a 1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,326 589 189 1,196 0 10 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,465 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Lambeth 12,847 1,644 444 2,378 413 12 
			 Lewisham 17,497 1,245 443 1,847 919 0 
			 Merton 4,834 261 252 156 2 0 
			 Newham 19,503 n/a n/a 5,815 15 3 
			 Redbridge 4,766 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,868 279 60 458 n/a 0 
			 Southwark 6,657 1,668 507 969 370 6 
			 Sutton 2,145 272 302 636 31 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 14,575 1,151 160 2948 5 5 
			 Waltham Forest 9,016 800 942 1,807 74 1 
			 Wandsworth 6,672 840 424 1,593 46 0 
			 Westminster 5,667 1,112 1,015 3,148 139 175 
		
	
	(87)All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
	(88)Data shown where four quarterly returns were received n/a denotes an authority failed to provide a return for one or more quarters.
	(89)Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	(90)Households designated as homeless at home that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	Source:
	ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly) and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

Household Projections (South-east)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his timetable is for publication of household projections for the South East.

Yvette Cooper: Publication of 2003-based household projections for England and the Government Office Regions is planned for September. These will be National Statistics with the release date pre-announced on the Office for National Statistics' website.

Housing

Lorely Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what(a) legislation and (b) other safeguards are in place (i) to protect public open space and parkland from housing development in the urban environment and (ii)to stop councils selling off public open space and parkland for housing development to fund other council services.

Yvette Cooper: National planning guidance set out in PPG17 (Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation) makes clear that open spaces that are needed by their communities should be protected and not developed for other uses. PPG17 indicates that planning authorities should undertake assessments of their communities' open space needs and only consider granting permission for development where open spaces are surplus to all requirements. PPG3 (Housing) complements this protection through the priority it gives to building new houses on previously developed land.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister must be notified of those major proposals for housing or that affect open spaces which are subject to relevant directions so that he can consider whether to call them in for his own determination. A local authority proposing to dispose of open space under the Local Government Act 1972 must advertise its intention in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks and consider any objections.
	Disposal of land by local authorities is governed by section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. Local authorities may dispose of land in any manner they wish: my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State's only involvement is to grant or withhold consent where authorities wish to dispose of land at less than the best consideration reasonably obtainable and the proposed disposal falls outside the scope of the General Consent set out in ODPM Circular 06/2003.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the zone agent is for West Sussex in the key worker living scheme.

Yvette Cooper: Moat Housing Group is the zone agent for the Sussex area.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has received from the Regional Housing Board on the amount of affordable housing needed inWest Sussex (a) in 2005 and (b) over the next 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: The South East Regional Housing Board has not given any advice to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the amount of affordable housing needed in West Sussex. The Board's role is to set out overall priorities for the region rather than to determine allocations between individual local authorities.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many key workers in West Sussex he expects to benefit from the (a) Social Home Buy and (b) New Build Home programmes.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	It is not possible to estimate at the moment how many people in West Sussex will benefit from the Government's proposals for low cost home ownership. The South East Region has been allocated 805.161 million of funding for housing for the two years 200608 and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently awaiting Regional Housing Board recommendations as to how and where this should be invested. Once priorities for investment have been established, housing providers will be invited to bid for funding. The number of people in West Sussex who will benefit will depend on which bids are successful.
	With regard to Social HomeBuy it is a voluntary scheme and it will be up to the individual social landlords to decide whether to operate it in any given area.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many first-time buyers in West Sussex he expects to benefit from the First Time Buyers Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	It is too early to say how many first time buyers in West Sussex will be helped through the First Time Buyers Initiative. Our target for the initiative is to provide 15,000 affordable homes across England over the next five years to 2010. This target can be found in our Five Year Strategy, Sustainable Communities: Homes for All, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in January 2005 (a copy of which is available in the Library of the House). English Partnerships is now developing a delivery plan for the First Time Buyers Initiative.
	Our consultation document HomeBuy; Expanding the opportunity to own launched in April 2005 set out various proposals for simplifying, making fairer and expanding our low cost home ownership programme. The consultation process closed on 24 June, and the results will be fed into English Partnerships' delivery plan. English Partnerships will be working closely with stakeholders such as the Regional Housing Boards, local planning authorities and others to assess local demands and accommodate them where possible taking account of regional strategies and development plans. Regional Housing Boards will advise on groups to be given priority, reflecting the needs of the region.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in West Sussex he expects to benefit from the Key Worker Living Scheme.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	Allocations are not made by individual counties. The Sussex area has been allocated over 8 million in 200405 and 200506 to invest in the provision of Key Worker Living Homebuy Equity Loans to help an estimated 250 households into home ownership by March 2006. In addition funding has been allocated to develop over 424 new homes to rent or buy through shared ownership in the area by March 2007.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public sector land the Government have released for housing in West Sussex in the last five years; and how much further such land he plans to release.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to identify and release land for housing as part of the planning process.
	The Government have implemented a number of initiatives to assist with land supply in support of the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	A register of surplus public sector land held by central Government bodies has been established. English Partnerships is currently reviewing the sites on the register to identify those which could have the potential for housing development. As at March 2005, there were 713 sites on the register. Sites are continually being added as they are identified as surplus by landowners and removed once expressions of interests are received after a site has been marketed. A list of the sites on the register, as at March 2005, can be found on the English Partnerships website at: http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/images/16EE954C904340DDAB44702EF5D2ADE6.pdf. English Partnerships will publish a quarterly update of sites on the register.
	English Partnerships has also recently taken ownership of the first 67 sites from a portfolio of 96 surplus hospital sites. The sites are currently being assessed for their development potential and will then be taken forward in consultation with the relevant local planning authorities. English Partnerships and the Defence Estates have also signed a joint working agreement on surplus land. This sets out how the agencies will work together with the objective of maximising the potential of surplus defence sites to help deliver the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and English Partnerships also maintain the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land (NLUD-PDL). This covers vacant and derelict land and also land in use with potential for development. It covers land in both public and private ownership. Information on the sites is available from the NLUD website at www.nlud.org.uk.
	In addition, English Partnerships is developing the National Brownfield Strategy which will provide a coherent vision for the future development of brownfield land to underpin national, regional and local development aspirations. The strategy will help our targets for building new homes on brownfield land thereby reducing the pressure on the green belt.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition he uses of the term affordable housing.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in the other place on 9 June 2005, Official Report, column WA99100 to the noble Lord Marlesford.

Housing

Brian Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many house (a) demolitions and (b) completions there were in (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector in the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of demolitions and new build completions in each year since 199596 for England are tabled as follows.
	
		Thousands of dwellings
		
			   (b) New build completions 
			  (a) Total demolitions(91) Private sector Social (for rent) sector(92)(5508010093) 
		
		
			 199596 n/a 123.6 31.0 
			 199697 n/a 121.2 25.1 
			 199798 14.1 127.8 21.7 
			 199899 14.5 119.5 19.1 
			 19992000 17.2 124.2 17.2 
			 200001 20.0 116.4 16.7 
			 200102 26.3 115.5 14.2 
			 200203 23.4 124.3 13.4 
			 200304 20.1 129.5 13.8 
			 200405 n/a 137.8 16.8 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	(91)Figures are not available separately for private and social for rent sectors
	(92)Social (for rent) sector covers activity by councils and registered social landlords
	(93)The figures may understate new build by Registered Social Landlords as such dwellings may be classified as 'private' by building inspectors.
	Source:
	Demolitions: Local Authority Housing Flow (HFR/P3J) returns to ODPM, also HIP Business Plan Completions: Local Authority P2 (also NHBC) returns to ODPM

Local Authority Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to local authorities in England.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Authority Pension Funds

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the likely shortfall in local authority pension funds under the (a) Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and (b) Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2005.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 411W.

Local Authority Targets

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the targets that his Department sets for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Local authorities contribute to the delivery of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister's Public Service Agreement targets. These are set out in the ODPM Annual report, a copy of which has been made available in the Library of the House. They also contribute to the delivery of targets set out in the ODPM five-year plans, Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity and Sustainable Communities: Homes for all. These do not include targets set by other Departments for local authorities.

Motorway Advertisements

Mark Tami: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning constraints apply to the (a) size and (b) location of advertisements adjacent to motorways.

Yvette Cooper: The limits to the size and location of advertisements which may be displayed with the deemedconsent of the local planning authority are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, otherwise local planning authorities must consider amenity and public safety on a site-specific basis.

Oil Firing Technology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to raise professional standards among oil fired heating installers by means of the oil firing technical association scheme.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry Ltd. (OFTEC) is an industry body which installers can choose to join if they wish. It has robust entry competence standards and continuing training requirements for installers registered with it. Its installers have been found to deliver a high level of compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations.
	No information is available on the competence level of installers which are not registered with OFTEC. They are under a duty to inform local authorities of all installations that they carry out and the local authorities are responsible for making sure that these installations meet the minimum required standards in the Building Regulations.

Oil Firing Technology

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Oil Firing Technical Association Scheme was last reviewed; and when the next review is scheduled to take place.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The building regulations competent person scheme operated by the Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry Ltd. (OFTEC) began operation on 1 April 2002. It was subject to a formal review after a year of operation. The review concluded that it had achieved a higher level of building regulations compliance than would otherwise have been the case and had helped to raise installation standards. Since that time the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has kept OFTEC under informal review and believes that the conclusions reached by the formal review remain valid.
	The next formal review of OFTEC will take place in conjunction with its application for UKAS accreditation to the appropriate standard, likely within the next 18 months.

Planning Policy Guidance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) when he expects to publish his revision of Planning Policy Guidance 3;
	(2)  which national planning policy documents the Government are seeking to revise or update; and what timetable has been set.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 835W, which set out the Government's plans for revising planning policy guidance (PPG3) on housing.
	The written statement made by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Housing and Planning on 17 June 2004, Official Report, column 45WS, indicated that priority would be given to replacement of Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) by Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) where it was required for good policy reasons. Progress on replacement of those PPGs (other than PPG3) identified in the statement as a priority is tabled as follows.
	
		
			 PPS Number Subject Consultation draft Publication of revised PPS/PPG 
		
		
			 1 Delivering Sustainable Development 23 February 2004 1 February 2005 
			 4 Economic Development To be decided  
			 6 Planning for Town Centres 15 December 2003 21March 2005 
			 7 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas 15 September 2003 3 August 2004 
			 9 Nature Conservation/ Biodiversity 8 September 2004 August 2005 
			 10 Waste Management 6 December 2004 Summer 2005 
			 11 Regional Planning 13 October 2003 7 September 2004 
			 12 Development Plans 13 October 2003 7 September 2004 
			 22 Renewable Energy 5 November 2003 9 August 2004 
			 23 Pollution Control February plus July 2002 3 November 2004 
			 24 Planning and Noise Autumn 2005 Summer 2006 
			 25 Development and Flood Risk Autumn 2005  
		
	
	The review and replacement of other PPGs will take place as and when necessary in the light of their policy and strategic significance. In the meantime the current PPG will remain in place.
	It is not proposed to produce any additional PPSs at present, although good practice guidance on specific topics may be produced from time to time.

Private Rented Accommodation

Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the (a) regional and (b) local variation in availability of private sector rented accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates of the number of privately rented households in England during 200304, broken down by Government Office Region, are set out in the following table. The figures are derived from the Survey of English Housing, which is an annual survey of around 20,000 households. While the survey is large enough to provide reasonable estimates of the number of private renters by region, it cannot be used to provide estimates at local authority level.
	
		Number of privately renting households by region, 200304
		
			 Government office region Privately renting households All households Private renters as a percentage of all households 
		
		
			 North East 84,000 1,100,000 8 
			 North West 235,000 2,822,000 8 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 176,000 2,137,000 8 
			 East Midlands 156,000 1,768,000 9 
			 West Midlands 153,000 2,170,000 7 
			 Eastern 241,000 2,250,000 11 
			 London 507,000 3,013,000 17 
			 South East 337,000 3,262,000 10 
			 South West 260,000 2,105,000 12 
			 Total 2,149,000 20,627,000 10 
		
	
	Source:
	Survey of English Housing, 200304
	A comprehensive breakdown of the number of privately rented households at the time of the 2001 census is available in a table entitled: KS18 Tenure: census 2001, Key Statistics of local authorities
	This can be accessed via the National Statistics website using the following link: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=6579More=Y
	The number of households who were privately renting at the time of the last census can be determined by adding together the figures in columns H and I of this table.

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been allocated to each Hampshire local authority from the Safer Stronger Communities Fund.

Phil Woolas: There are no local authorities in Hampshire receiving Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) funding from the Safer Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF).

Social Housing

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the forecast availability of (a) council and (b) registered social landlord social housing is in each year to 2010, broken down by Government Office region.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any forecasts of availability of social housing up to 2010.
	Following the Spending Review 2004 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimated that 75,000 additional social rented homes would be provided in England by 200708. The regional housing boards recommendations, being considered by Ministers, will inform the detailed investment priorities for 200607 and 200708.
	Future delivery of social housing after 200708 will be dependent on the outcome of the Spending Review 2006.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abandoned Vehicles

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent by each council in Northern Ireland on clearing abandoned vehicles in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The information requested was not held centrally until 200203. For 200203 and 200304, the net expenditure incurred by district councils on clearing abandoned vehicles is set out in the following table. Information for 200405 is not yet available.
	
		
			 District council 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 0 
			 Ards 1,493 1,323 
			 Armagh 3,800 13,957 
			 Ballymena 0 0 
			 Ballymoney 0 0 
			 Banbridge 0 0 
			 Belfast 0 70,716 
			 Carrickfergus 0 0 
			 Castlereagh 4,108 4,306 
			 Coleraine 0 0 
			 Cookstown 1,846 1,504 
			 Craigavon 0 0 
			 Derry 13,465 12,897 
			 Down 0 0 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 3,200 3,187 
			 Fermanagh 15,837 19,537 
			 Larne 15,084 3,180 
			 Limavady 75 5,858 
			 Lisburn 0 0 
			 Magherafelt 0 0 
			 Moyle 943 951 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 0 
			 Newtownabbey 37,425 14,792 
			 North Down 0 0 
			 Omagh 27,214 32,935 
			 Strabane 0 0 
			 Total 124,490 185,143

Auction Marts

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of auction marts within Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: I am aware that auction marts perform an important role within the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. The future of such marts is a commercial issue for each mart operator taking account of the pattern of trade in live animals and statutory obligations in respect of animal health and welfare in the operation of their enterprises.

Avian Flu

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what precautionary measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus to Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: If there is an outbreak of disease in an exporting country DARD takes appropriate emergency safeguard action in accordance with Community legislation. This may include a ban on imports of animals and animal products from all, or parts, of that country.
	Safeguard measures in relation to Avian influenza (AI) were put in place for affected Asian countries in January 2004 and have since been extended to 30 September 2005. Restrictions were placed on South African imports in August 2004 and have now been extended to 31 December 2005.
	The situation in affected countries is kept under review and controls on imports are modified in line with community decisions. Safeguard measures are currently in place to ban or restrict imports of animals, meat and other products of susceptible species in respect of highly pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, including the territory of Hong Kong, North Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and South Africa.
	All poultry meat and birds imported into the EU from third countries must enter at designated border inspection posts where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks. These checks ensure that these import conditions are met. Northern Ireland has no border inspection posts approved to accept live poultry, although we can accept certain categories of frozen and chilled products for human consumption.
	WHO is carefully monitoring the situation in South East Asia with regards to human cases of the disease. Northern Ireland maintains close links with the Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency in England in order to ensure we have up to date information on global developments.
	Since the SARS outbreak in early 2003, surveillance for 'flu' and 'flu-like' illnesses is carried out throughout the year by a network of 24 GP spotter practices. These GPs are requested to obtain appropriate clinical samples for laboratory analysis from patients presenting with clinical features of 'flu', particularly if there are links with South East Asia.

Bovine TB

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cattle herds in Northern Ireland were placed under movement restrictions as a result of bovine TB during (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 in each of the six counties.

Angela Smith: During 2003 and 2004, there were 12,184 and 13,572 cattle herds placed under movement restrictions as a result of bovine TB. The distribution of movement restrictions is not available by county. The increase in herd restrictions in 2004 reflects the measures introduced to deal with herds whose test had not taken place by the due date. There is clear evidence that the incidence of TB in Northern Ireland is decreasing.

Child Support Agency

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Child Support Agency (CSA) cases in Northern Ireland were being calculated under the new system for CSA payments on 1 July.

David Hanson: The percentage of child support cases in Northern Ireland being assessed on the new computer system (CS2) under the new rules as of 1 July 2005 is 29.4 per cent. A further 17.7 per cent. are also being processed on the new system. However, these cases have been assessed using 'old scheme' legislation and will be maintained for a transitional period until such times as Ministers decide to convert all remaining 'old scheme' cases to the 'new rules'.

Common Agricultural Policy

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was spent within the delivery element of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of the Department's total expenditure was accounted for by common agricultural policy payments to individual farmers.

Angela Smith: The latest financial year for which audited accounts are available is 200304.
	It has been assumed that the delivery element represents expenditure which is not classified as administration in estimates. On this basis expenditure on the delivery element totalled 354.2 million.
	Total expenditure by the Department in 200304 amounted to 471.2 million. The total common agricultural policy expenditure amounted to 205.8 million, giving a percentage of 43.7 per cent. The breakdown of this expenditure between individual farmers and other recipients is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days Department of Agriculture and Rural Development staff took off as sick leave on average in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The last year for which official figures are available is the 200304 financial year and only relates to 3,875 non-industrial staff employed by DARD. During this period the statistics indicate that staff in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development took on average 12.4 days sick absence per staff year. DARD is currently in the process of obtaining official figures for circa 600 industrial staff, but these will not be available until later in the year.

Departmental Staff

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what salary is paid to the (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) each of the Deputy Secretaries within the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development; and what level of expenses each received in 200405.

Angela Smith: The salary, including performance pay, of the Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Secretaries is published annually in the resource accounts of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The accounts for the 200405 financial year have not yet been published. They will be submitted for audit by 29 July 2005 and laid before Parliament by 31 October 2005.
	As the salary information requested will be the subjectof future publication it falls within the scope of Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Iam therefore unable at this time to provide you with salary details for 200405.
	The only expenses paid to the Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Secretaries were for travel and subsistence. The following amounts were paid to the relevant officers during 200405.
	
		
		
			   Name   Title Travel and subsistence expenses 200405 
		
		
			 Mr. P. Toal Permanent Secretary 2,219.54 
			 Mr. G. Lavery Deputy Secretary 323.60 
			 Mr. R. Houston Deputy Secretary 2,647.29 
			 Mr. T. McCusker Deputy Secretary 4,934.32 
			 Mr. R. McClenaghan Deputy Secretary 3,058.21 
			 Dr. G. McIlroy Deputy Secretary 0

Departmental Staff

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed within the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development; and what the total wages bill was in 200405.

Angela Smith: At 31 March 2005 a total of 4,286 staff were employed by the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development. The total wages bill for 200405 was 108,653,000.

Driving Tests

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) passes and (b) failures of driving tests there were in each of the test centres within Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The number of driving test (a) passes and (b) failures at each of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency's centres is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 to date 
			 Centre Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail 
		
		
			 Armagh 774 655 678 741 718 649 758 642 707 536 570 484 
			 Ballymena 1,108 1,130 1,041 1,096 1,147 1,315 1,194 1,549 1,395 2,051 744 997 
			 Belfast Balmoral 1,879 2,889 1,743 2,517 1,578 3,055 1,818 3,138 1,075 2,248 631 1,121 
			 Belfast Castlereagh 1,589 1,905 1,622 1,883 1,472 2,008 1,534 2,229 990 1,715 664 1,020 
			 Coleraine 1,270 1,123 1,196 1,235 1,242 1,145 1,531 1,620 1,205 1,375 790 833 
			 Cookstown 1,575 1,128 1,385 1,648 1,848 1,867 1,839 2,029 2,069 1,901 1,019 851 
			 Craigavon 1,126 1,091 1,060 1,335 1,050 1,255 1,211 1,504 1,186 1,088 668 568 
			 Downpatrick 1,052 620 1,079 708 1,063 689 1,271 878 1,244 650 612 443 
			 Enniskillen 897 406 875 434 851 480 998 496 861 645 544 375 
			 Larne 1,653 1,274 1,412 1,731 1,447 1,965 1,408 1,982 1,071 1,728 812 1,182 
			 Lisburn 1,099 847 1,025 1,039 901 1,160 1,150 1,411 804 1,285 577 978 
			 Londonderry 1,730 1,331 1,375 1,687 1,533 1,801 1,607 1,889 1,339 1,866 788 1,196 
			 Newry 1,238 893 1,116 1,066 1,228 1,190 1,332 1,071 1,105 846 866 639 
			 Newtownards 1,555 1,007 1,541 1,179 1,507 1,303 1,602 1,384 1,461 1,329 1,042 915 
			 Omagh 1,024 796 976 961 1,025 1,012 1,244 977 1,233 977 648 492

Dyslexia

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated to each education and library board to implement the Taskforce Group report proposals on dyslexia for (a) 200405, (b) 200506 and (c) 200708; and what assessment he has made of the use to which such resources have so far been put.

Angela Smith: Additional earmarked allocations to the education and library boards for pupils with dyslexia were 60,000 per board in 200405 and 136,000 per board in 200506. This represents a total investment of 980,000 over the two years. It is planned to make further funding available in 200607 and 200708, but exact allocations for those years have yet to be determined.
	The boards are asked to monitor this expenditure and to provide reports to the Department of Education on a six monthly basis. To date enhanced support, through the peripatetic and educational psychology services, has enabled waiting times to be reduced and increased numbers of children to be supported. Training for teachers in identification techniques and teaching strategies has also been extended.

Education and Library Expenditure

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will apply equality impact assessments to the recently announced changes in expenditure by the education and library boards, with particular reference to funding for English as an additional language support.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education will not be carrying out equality impact assessments in relation to any of the recently announced cutbacks in expenditure by the education and library boards, nor the reductions in funding made by the education and library boards for English as an additional language support.
	Boards must consider carefully any reduction in their support for EAL Services as the additional funding provided to schools for this purpose through the common funding Formula is intended to supplement and not to replace board funding. Boards must be satisfied that the services they provide are sufficient to meet the needs of EAL pupils in their area. The change in EAL policy by the board may adversely affect children whose first language is not English and who are of a different race and could therefore place the board in contravention of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Boards are public authorities in their own right under the terms of the Act. Boards must advise the Department on the action they are taking to ensure the provision of adequate EAL services in their area.

Education Finance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the recently announced additional funding of 12.5 million to education is to be divided between education and library boards; for what specific purposes within each Board the funding has been allocated; what the timescale for the availability of this funding is; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Consideration is currently being given to the arrangements for distribution of the 12.5 million to the five Education Boards and the other education authorities. The funding will be allocated to special education, school meals, school maintenance, and to help deal with the impact of falling pupil numbers and support the Boards in developing shared services. It is planned to notify allocations for special education, school meals and maintenance before the beginning of the next school year. Allocations in relation to falling pupil numbers and shared services will be conditional on Boards bringing forward robust plans.

Electricity Expenditure

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average amount spent by a household in Northern Ireland on electricity was in the last two years.

Angela Smith: The average household electricity bill in Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 March 2004 was 410, and that for the year ended 31 March 2005 was 412.
	The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is continuing to work towards securing EU State aid approval of a proposed Government intervention aimed at reducing electricity prices. As an interim measure, 8.8 million of the available funding has been allocated to assist with energy efficiency measures which will have the effect of an average 1.5 per cent. reduction in electricity tariffs for all customers in the 200506 tariff year.

Fuel Poverty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds) on 13 June 2005 in Official Report, column 4150W.

Public Sector Housing

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's house building target is for the South Antrim constituency in the public sector over the next five years.

David Hanson: In the South Antrim constituency the public sector house building targets are as follows:
	
		
			  Schemes Number of houses 
		
		
			 200506 7 73 
			 200607   
			 200708 2 18 
			 200809 2 16 
			 200910 7 57

Reading

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the use of synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading in Northern Ireland's schools.

Angela Smith: The Belfast Education and Library Board has developed and trialled a linguistic phonics programme (which is similar to synthetic phonics) within schools its area in the period 2003 to 2005. Feedback from the initial study of the programme was positive and in 200506, as part of the Northern Ireland literacy strategy, it is being expanded across other board areas.

Secondary Education

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been to date of the review of post-primary education, including the (a) Burns and (b) Costello report; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Post-Primary Review was completed on 26 January 2004 when the Government announced they had accepted and were implementing the recommendations of the Post-Primary Review Working Group.
	A total of 1,464,000 has been spent on the post-primary review as follows:
	(a) 830,000 on research, the Post-Primary Review Body costs and the publication of the Burns report;
	(b) 419,000 on consultation about the recommendations of the Burns report; and
	(c) 215,000 on costs of the Post-Primary Review Working Group and the publication and distribution of the Costello report.

Secondary Education

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses were received by the Department of Education in its consultation on admissions criteria; when he expects the analysis of responses to be concluded; and what the cost has been to date of the admissions criteria consultation exercise.

Angela Smith: The consultation on new admissions arrangements closed on 30 June and all the responses received are currently being processed. It is not yet possible to confirm the total number of responses but this figure should be available shortly. Analysis of responses will take place over the summer months and we will be endeavouring to complete this as soon as possible to inform decisions on the way forward. I will write to the hon. Member with further information as soon as this is available.
	The cost of the consultation to date is 71,777.

Sewerage

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what improvements are planned for the sewerage infrastructure of the Laurelvale and Tandragee area.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mrs. Iris Robinson dated 11 July 2005.
	You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what improvements are planned for the sewerage infrastructure of the Laurelvale and Tandragee area. (10356). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	The existing wastewater treatment works at Tandragee is overloaded and does not meet the regulatory discharge standard set by the Environment and Heritage Service. Water Service is therefore taking forward a major project to rationalise wastewater treatment in the Tandragee area. This includes the provision of a new wastewater treatment works at Tandragee and the closure of a number of smaller wastewater treatment works including Laurelvale. The wastewater from these smaller works will be pumped to the new Tandragee Works for treatment. The new treatment works has been designed to cater for future needs in the area up to the year 2028. Work on the project commenced in April 2005 and is due for completion in March 2007, at an estimated cost of 8.3 million.
	Water Service is presently carrying out a Drainage Area Study on the Tandragee sewerage network to identify any improvements required to meet future capacity and environmental standards. The study is nearing completion and it is anticipated that it will recommend improvement works to the value of approximately 1 million. However, due to other priorities, arising mainly from the need to achieve compliance with EC Directives, it is unlikely that any improvement work on the sewerage network could commence before 2010.

Speech Therapy

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the provision of speech therapy support to children with special educational needs at Belvoir Park Primary School in Belfast South; and if he will take steps to improve the provision of such support.

Angela Smith: Officials from the Department of Education have been in contact with the South Eastern Education and Library Board, in which area Belvoir Park Primary School is situated. The Board is aware of the problem and has written to the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, expressing deep concern and requesting an early meeting. I have asked to be informed of the outcome of that meeting.

Staff Development

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department of Education has spent on implementing its policy of staff development and performance review.

Angela Smith: My Department has spent 1.7k on implementing the Performance Review and Staff Development (PRSD) scheme which will apply to all teachers in grant-aided schools from the 1 September 2005. This covered the cost of training all principals, nominated school governors and the appointment, training and employment of the external advisors to provide quality, objective and focussed advice to school governors in the review of the principal.

Teachers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers are employed in (a) Catholic maintained schools and (b) non-Catholic maintained schools; and what the average gross salary paid to teachers in each category was for the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: There are 7,063 permanent teachers currently employed in Catholic maintained schools and 10,142 in non-Catholic maintained schools. The average gross salary for each category for the 200405 financial year was 221,287,678.38 for Catholic maintained schools and 306,271,691.36 for the non-Catholic maintained schools.

Transfers Tourist Board

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his response of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 92W, on the Northern Ireland Transfers Tourist Board, if he will break down the totals by district council area.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the total Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) grant assistance paid to tourism related businesses in each Northern Ireland council area since 1999 (financial years).
	It should also be noted that financial assistance was provided to accommodation projects by the NITB up until March 2002 however since April 2002 this assistance has been administered through Invest NI.
	
		
		
			 Council 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Across all council areas and x-border 1,213,839.87 1,166,946.38 1,366,717.37 
			 Antrim Borough Council 557,314.39 120,498.70 93,841.90 
			 Ards Borough Council 314,121.58 293,261.78 2,246.19 
			 City and District Council 96,532.46 710,783.87 2,058,104.99 
			 Ballymena Borough Council 109,462.70 24,844.95 9,940.30 
			 Ballymoney Borough Council 11,418.70 117,773.41 10,854.24 
			 Banbridge District Council 2,100.00 500.00 43,381.62 
			 Belfast City Council 1,004,640.33 1,504,387.32 2,123,103.00 
			 Carrickfergus Borough Council 8,871.41 97,548.91 147,818.58 
			 Castlereagh Borough Council 31,500.00 4,200.00 0.00 
			 Coleraine Borough Council 97,795.94 602,739.79 168,600.48 
			 Cookstown District Council 26,138.44 30,113.00 500.00 
			 Craigavon Borough Council 1,209.82 15,724.34 0.00 
			 Derry City Council 609,542.64 531,512.51 1,753,139.92 
			 Down District Council 1,508,804.36 2,088,662.11 561,591.78 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council 161,791.79 35,289.91 24,824.64 
			 Fermanagh District Council 452,050.36 354,196.74 1,408,109.86 
			 Larne Borough Council 20,493.30 402,233.37 508,782.01 
			 Limavady Borough Council 71,454.63 120,454.38 24,221.50 
			 Lisburn Borough Council 35,685.51 58,145.92 39,709.83 
			 Magherafelt District Council 3,117.38 56,945.49 181,109.83 
			 Moyle District Council 391,445.84 950,834.44 574,033.40 
			 Newry and Mourne District Council 242,217.76 158,801.38 130,960.31 
			 Newtownabbey Borough Council 900.00 1,000.00 600.00 
			 North Down Borough Council 53,504.52 21,800.00 700.00 
			 Omagh District Council 261,931.26 173,876.03 156,208.68 
			 Strabane District Council 15,045.86 15,984.30 1,140.00 
			 Total 7,302,930.85 9,659,059.03 11,390,240.43 
		
	
	
		
			 Council 200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Across all council areas and x-border 1,214,735.45 1,993,209.78 1,666,684.31 8,622,133.16 
			 Antrim Borough Council 9,700.00 0.00 0.00 781,354.99 
			 Ards Borough Council 56,736.58 57,375.74 0.00 723,741.87 
			 City and District Council 26,630.56 23,991.20 0.00 2,916,043.08 
			 Ballymena Borough Council 1,500.00 1,000.00 0.00 146,747.95 
			 Ballymoney Borough Council 0.00 13,047.18 0.00 153,093.53 
			 Banbridge District Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 45,981.62 
			 Belfast City Council 58,800.63 21,000.00 38,314.95 4,750,246.23 
			 Carrickfergus Borough Council 1,500.00 500.00 0.00 256,238.90 
			 Castlereagh Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 35,700.00 
			 Coleraine Borough Council 43,768.98 35,410.62 0.00 948,315.81 
			 Cookstown District Council 100,348.63 0.00 0.00 157,100.07 
			 Craigavon Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 16,934.16 
			 Derry City Council 57,680.46 11,654.98 7,123.97 2,970,654.48 
			 Down District Council 30,236.44 15,172.10 0.00 4,204,466.79 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council 0.00 20,790.00 2,310.00 245,006.34 
			 Fermanagh District Council 11,476.91 41,857.92 15,392.47 2,283,084.26 
			 Larne Borough Council 1,500.00 0.00 0.00 933,008.68 
			 Limavady Borough Council 2,300.00 4,602.91 0.00 223,033.42 
			 Lisburn Borough Council 3,500.00 2,021.79 0.00 139,063.05 
			 Magherafelt District Council 17,416.40 0.00 0.00 258,589.10 
			 Moyle District Council 24,185.92 12,072.63 0.00 1,952,572.23 
			 Newry and Mourne District Council 37,397.60 3,379.51 35,775.13 608,531.69 
			 Newtownabbey Borough Council 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,500.00 
			 North Down Borough Council 700.00 0.00 0.00 76,704.52 
			 Omagh District Council 2,368.52 0.00 7,093.37 601,477.86 
			 Strabane District Council 25,432.99 0.00 0.00 57,603.15 
			 Total 1,727,916.07 2,257,086.36 1,772,694.20 34,109,926.94

Waste Management

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what waste management options have been placed before councils by the Government.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has recently published guidance on waste management options for municipal and non-municipal waste in Northern Ireland. The report on Best Practicable Environmental Option for Waste Management follows extensive stakeholder engagement involving District Councils and other stakeholders as part of the Waste Management Strategy review.
	A broad range of options were considered comprising different combinations of technologies to divert waste from landfill including recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment, thermal treatment and advanced thermal treatment (pyrolysis and gasification). These options were assessed against key decision criteria of feasibility, environmental impact, cost and social impact.
	The findings provide a framework for assessing the preferred combination of different technologies to meet targets on landfill diversion at 2020, in order to support progress on planning, procurement and funding for a new waste management infrastructure for Northern Ireland. The framework is intended to guide District Councils in the development of their Waste Management Plans and infrastructure procurement, while not constraining local choices to meet challenging Landfill Directive targets.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Claim Management Companies

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which claim management companies are adhering to the Claims Standards Council's draft code.

Bridget Prentice: None. The Claims Standards Council (CSC) has submitted its draft code of practice to the Office of Fair Trading for approval. We will work with the CSC to ensure that compliance with the code is effectively monitored by them.

Claim Management Companies

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she has taken to assess the effectiveness of the self-regulation of claim management companies.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have announced that they will introduce measures in the Compensation Bill to enable claims management companies to be effectively regulated.

Conditional Fee Arrangements

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reform the rules governing the procedure for conditional fee arrangements.

Bridget Prentice: We published a consultation paper Making Simple CFAs a Reality in June 2004. We have considered the responses made and we plan to publish a report of the conclusions of the consultation by autumn 2005.

Contingency Fees

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) carried out into the (i)effectiveness and (i) impact of contingency fees.

Bridget Prentice: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, Better Routes to Redress recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact and effectiveness of contingency fees. The Government rejected this recommendation. They believe that Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) should remain the principal form of private funding in the civil justice system and that the primary focus should remain on making CFAs work better rather than exploring the potential impact of allowing contingency fees beyond their existing use.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 26 May, reference 1843731.

Bridget Prentice: My Department wrote to my hon. Friend on 1 June saying we would reply by the 29 June. I replied on 30 June one day late. For that I apologise. I understand my hon. Friend received the reply on 6 July.

Criminal Defence Service

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of costs on average were claimed in applications for costs by the Criminal Defence Service in each of the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: The Criminal Defence Service (CDS) does not make an application for costs in criminal defence cases. Under the Criminal Defence Service (Recovery of Defence Costs Orders) Regulations 2001, it is the responsibility of the court to consider making a Recovery of Defence Costs Order (RDCO) at the conclusion of every case heard in the higher courts.

Election Turnout

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average turnout in (a) local, (b) general, (c) Welsh Assembly, (d) Northern Ireland Assembly, (e) Scottish Parliament, (f) London Assembly and (g) European Parliament elections was in each relevant year since 1975.

Harriet Harman: The average turnout in general, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament, London Assembly and European Parliament elections in each year since 1975 is set out as follows:
	
		General election turnout from 19452001
		
			  England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1945 73.4 75.7 69.0 67.4 72.8 
			 1950 84.4 84.8 80.9 77.4 83.9 
			 1951 82.7 84.4 81.2 79.9 82.6 
			 1955 76.9 79.6 75.1 74.1 76.8 
			 1959 78.9 82.6 78.1 65.9 78.7 
			 1964 77.0 80.1 77.6 71.7 77.1 
			 1966 75.9 79.0 76.0 66.1 75.8 
			 1970 71.4 77.4 74.1 76.6 72.0 
			 1974(94) 79.0 80.0 79.0 69.9 78.8 
			 1974(95) 72.6 76.6 74.8 67.7 72.8 
			 1979 75.9 79.4 76.8 67.7 76.0 
			 1983 72.5 76.1 72.7 72.9 72.7 
			 1987 75.4 78.9 75.1 67.0 75.3 
			 1992 78.0 79.7 75.5 69.8 77.7 
			 1997 71.4 73.5 71.3 67.1 71.4 
			 2001 59.2 61.6 58.2 68.0 59.4 
			 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a 61.3 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	(94)February
	(95)October
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 99/64
	
		National Assembly for Wales turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 46.2 
			 2003 38.2 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Northern Ireland Assembly
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1998 68.7 
			 2003 63.1 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Scottish Parliament turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999 58 
			 2003 49 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		Greater London Assembly elections turnout
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 31 
			 2004 36.97 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 03/59
	
		European Parliamentary election turnout from (197999)
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1979 32 
			 1984 33 
			 1989 36 
			 1994 36 
			 1999 24 
			 2004 38.8 
		
	
	Source:
	House of Commons Research Paper 99/64
	Comprehensive figures for local elections are not available centrally.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on administering the criminal legal aid system in each of the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Legal Services Commission's administration budget does not differentiate between administering the Criminal Defence Service and the Community Legal Service.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many civil legal aid contracts awarded in each of the contract rounds since the enactment of the Access to Justice Act 1999 were terminated before the expiry of their term, broken down by region; and what the reasons for the termination were in each case;
	(2)  how many civil legal aid contracts awarded before July 2003 were terminated before the expiry of their term, broken down by region; and what the reasons for the termination in each case were.

Bridget Prentice: The number of civil legal aid contracts terminated before the expiring of their term since civil contracting was introduced in 2000, by region, is shown in the following table. Information on the termination of individual contracts is not held centrally by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). To investigate the reasons behind the termination of these contracts would involve considerable liaison with each regional office and could be achieved only at disproportionate cost to the LSC.
	
		Figures showing the number of civil legal aid contracts terminated before the expiring of their term since contracting was introduced in 2000, by region are given below. (Reference 9816/9817)
		
			  Year terminated 
			 Region 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 West Midlands 26 17 25 20 27 
			 South East 37 27 57 53 13 
			 South West 15 19 7 19 12 
			 Eastern 4 13 27 6 3 
			 Wales 37 15 22 9 1 
			 Yorks and  Humberside 16 6 19 17 8 
			 Merseyside 11 1 18 9 16 
			 London 52 19 20 17 3 
			 North West 25 44 30 64 16 
			 North East 16 12 11 24 9 
			 East Midlands 18 10 6 10 2 
			 Total 257 183 242 248 110

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 13312W, on legal aid/salaries, what the reasons were for the termination of the 104 active contracts which were terminated before the expiry of their term; and which regions they covered.

Bridget Prentice: Information on the termination of individual contracts is not held centrally by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). To investigate the reasons behind the termination of these contracts would involve considerable liaison with each regional office and could be achieved only at disproportionate cost to the LSC.

National Archives

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward legislation to make it an offence to place forged documents in the National Archives.

Bridget Prentice: On 5 July the National Archives placed the following statement on its website:
	Reports in the press have questioned the authenticity of five documents within files FO 800/9868 and HS 8/944. The National Archives has taken these allegations extremely seriously. We commissioned an official forensic examination which has now concluded that these five documents are, indeed, forgeries. In the light of this, we are reviewing our own procedures and taking legal advice, with a view to taking further action.
	It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Police Stations (Duty Solicitors)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans to change the number of duty solicitors at police stations.

Bridget Prentice: There are currently no plans to change the access of individuals held at police stations to free legal advice.

Postal Voting

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Department's policy is on all postal vote elections; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the reply Igave on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 535W.

Public Record Office

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) integrity and (b) authenticity of documents held in the Public Record Office; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The National Archives has a duty to make its holdings publicly available under the Public Records Act 1958 but has put in place a range of security measures to safeguard their integrity and authenticity. In the light of a current case, these measures are being reviewed.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information requested on how much was spent on taxis in each of the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Department has published rules for official travel in its staff handbook and all travel complied with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

Voter Registration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has (a) conducted and (b) evaluated into the effect of individual registration on the electoral roll.

Harriet Harman: The Electoral Commission has published a number of reports covering this issue. These include The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002: An assessment of its first year in Operation (December 2003) and Statistical analysis of the Northern Ireland electoral register (December 2003). Since the publication of these reports, the Commission has also periodically published updated statistical analysis. The most recent analysis was published in May 2005 and charts the impact of the Electoral Registration (Northern Ireland) Act 2005. The issue is also covered in the Commission's 2003 report The Electoral Registration Process. All of these publications are available on the Electoral Commission's website.
	This issue was also discussed in the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee report Electoral Registration in Northern Ireland (December 2004), and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee report Electoral Registration (March 2005).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Academic Research (Commercial Exploitation)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many spin-offs from English universities there were in each year between 1994 and 2004; and what proportion of the total income of English universities she estimates was derived from the commercial exploitation of academic research in each of these years.

Bill Rammell: Information on spin-offs and income generated from the commercial exploitation of academic research is available from the Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction survey (HE-BCI) carried out by the Higher Education funding Council for England (HEFCE). Such information was not available before 2001. The first set of data to be published was for the academic year 2001/02. Data currently available are as set out in the following table:
	
		Income (000)
		
			  2001/02 AY 2002/03 AY 
		
		
			 Contract research 267,598 237,904 
			 Consultancy 93,695 125,823 
			 Licensing income 22,136 15,329 
			 Sale of spin-off equity 10,425 13,490 
			 Number of spin-offs 159 158 
		
	
	Source:
	HE-BCI Surveypublished figures
	There is no formal requirement on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to provide information for this survey. The data in the previous table are therefore not necessarily a complete reflection of the number of spin-offs and income generated. Information on total income is available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Financial Statistical Return as set out in the following table:
	
		HEFCE funded HEIs
		
			  Total income (000) 
		
		
			 2001/02 AY 11,833,707 
			 2002/03 AY 12,722,703 
		
	
	Source:
	HESA Financial Statistical Return

Academies

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what governance arrangements will be used for new 16 to 19 academies;
	(2)  whether the new 16 to 19 Academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge Campus will be (a) a school and (b) a further education college; and when she expects it to open for enrolments;
	(3)  whether the London West Learning and Skills Council Strategic Area Review took account of the plans to open a 16 to 19 academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge campus; and whether the review recommended the opening of such an Academy.

Jacqui Smith: 1619 academies will be established under the procedures for setting up new further education colleges as specified in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. These academies will be subject to the same governance arrangements as for existing further education colleges, but tailored to reflect the ethos of an academy and the presence of a sponsor. Tailoring governance arrangements in this way is already established practice for a number of colleges in the FE sector, for example sixth form colleges. The governance arrangements for the academies will also need to take account of existing statutory requirements and will need to satisfy my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State before approval is given to the proposal.
	If approved by the Secretary of State, the new Brunei HSBC Education Trust Academy will be legally established as a further education college but will reflect the ethos of an academy. It would open in September 2008. The academy would provide education for 800 1619 year-olds drawing from the Learning and Skills Council London West area and beyond. It would be particularly aimed at those who might otherwise not have stayed on for post 16 education, including students from disadvantaged areas or who have achieved less than they might. (10490)
	The London West Learning and Skills Council Strategic Review did not coincide with the proposal to establish the Brunel HSBC Education Trust 1619 Academy. However, initial consultation by the sponsors involved Hillingdon LEA, West London LSC and the national LSC before the feasibility phase for the project began in December 2004.
	The West London LSC are active members of the Brunei academy project board and chair the academy forum which is seeking the views of local secondary schools and FE Colleges on the proposal, on an on-going basis as the proposal is developed. The academy sponsors are very keen to work closely with local schools and to provide a wider service to the community. Post 16 participation in Hillingdon is one of the lowest in West London and the academy will help to address this weakness. Further research into the need for places in the London West area, and the potential impact such an academy may have on local providers, has been commissioned by the local LSC and this should be available in the autumn for presentation to both the LSC and Ministers before a decision on the academy is made.

Academies

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  who has been consulted by (a) her Department and (b) the Learning and Skills Council on plans for a 16 to 19 Academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge Campus;
	(2)  how much funding (a) her Department and (b) the Learning and Skills Council have allocated to the feasibility study into plans for a 16 to 19 academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge Campus;
	(3)  what consultative arrangements are required to be in place when a new 16 to 19 academy is planned.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The project to establish a 1619 Academy based on Brunel University's Uxbridge Campus is currently in its feasibility stage. Initial consultation with post-16 education providers in the area is already under way through a West London Learning and Skills Council (LSC) chaired Academy Forum. Formal and wider consultation on the proposal to establish the Academy will begin during July 2005 for three months involving organisations who would normally be consulted during the establishment of a Further Education College and an Academy. This will include local schools and FE colleges, the West London LSC, the national LSC, Hillingdon LEA and other LEAs in the areas surrounding Uxbridge. In addition details of the proposal will be published in a local newspaper. The Academy sponsors are very keen that it should develop a good relationship with local schools and colleges.
	Academy projects in feasibility receive funding from the Department for Education and Skills depending on the expected length and complexity of the feasibility phase. The Learning and Skills Council is not involved in providing Academy feasibility funding. A final feasibility budget for the Brunel HSBC Education Trust Academy is likely to be decided shortly but is currently estimated to be 332,000. This will cover project management, consultation, legal and other costs until completion of the feasibility phase. This started in December 2004 and should finish in spring 2006.
	Academies for 16 to 19-year-olds will legally be Further Education Colleges but with an Academy ethos. The consultation will follow the statutory requirements for establishing a Further Education college under section 51 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Consultation requirements also include compliance with the Education (Publication of Draft Proposals and Orders) (Further Education Corporations) (England) Regulations 2001S.1.2001/782. The responses to consultation will be included in the detailed information to both the national LSC and Ministers before a decision is made on the establishment of the Academy.

Access to Learning Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources she has set aside for the Access to Learning Fund for each year between 2005 and 2008.

Phil Hope: The funds set aside for the Access to Learning Fund for each year between 2005 and 2008 are set out in  millon's in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 2005/06 (96)(5508010097)66.8 
			 2006/07 (96)65.8 
			 2007/08 (96)57.9 
		
	
	(96)The above figures include DfES'/HEFCE's contribution to administration. HEFCE's contribution for 2006/07 and 2007/08 is estimated and is based upon the council's actual contribution of 1.5 million for 2005/06, uprated by inflation (2.5 per cent.) for each year. Higher education institutions may use up to 3 per cent. of their total allocation for administrative purposes.
	(97)The figure for 2005/06 includes 1.85 millon transferred from the Department of Health (contribution for NHS means tested bursary recipients).

Adoption

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what restrictions on adopting children apply to people who are overweight.

Maria Eagle: There are no blanket restrictions on people who are overweight from applying to adopt a child. The adoption agency has a duty to children needing adoptive families to satisfy itself that the prospective adopter has a reasonable expectation of continuing to enjoy good health, and that they have sufficient health and vigour to meet the many varied demands of a child throughout his childhood and into adulthood.
	A person's weight could be a contributory factor to the state of his health, either now or in the future, and if so this will be brought out in his medical report produced by his GP. If there is any medical condition which might affect the prospective adopter's capacity to care for a child, this is taken very seriously and explored thoroughly to obtain as much information as possible to enable a decision to be made on his suitability to adopt a child. If an adoption agency decides that it does not propose to approve the prospective adopter, the reasons must be sound and defensible. The prospective adopter has the right to challenge that qualifying determination by either making representations to the adoption agency or applying to the independent review panel to review his case.

Adult Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) the Association of Colleges, (b) unions representing staff in the further education sector and (c) other concerned bodies about Learning and Skills Council funding allocations for adult education for 200506;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the sector skills councils about Learning and Skills Council funding allocations for adult education for 200506.

Bill Rammell: I last met with the Association of Colleges (AoC) on 27 June 2005 and with NATFHE on 23 June 2005 when we discussed further education, including adult education, funding issues among other matters. I expect to meet again with the AoC later this month and with NATFHE later in the year. I, and my ministerial colleagues, have also discussed funding issues and concerns with a number of other organisations and groups and with individual colleges and providers. I recently held two meetings with hon. and right hon. Members to discuss the further education funding settlement for 2005/06. Ministers are due to have met with all sector skills councils by the end of this year and will be happy to discuss any funding issues that may arise.

Adult Education

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used for appraising adult education colleges.

Phil Hope: All providers that are funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), including adult education colleges, are responsible for the effective management of their own processes for strategic planning, self-assessment and quality improvement. Local LSCs undertake an annual planning review with those providers that have agreed a three-year development plan with the LSC. These review discussions focus on the provider's contribution to the local LSC's plan and agreed priorities, progress towards achieving agreed strategies and performance measures, and the management of associated risks.
	Adult education colleges are inspected on a four-year cycle using the Common Inspection Framework for allpost-16 providers. This framework, published by Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate, is based on standard principles for inspection used across Government.

Advertising

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: My Department's expenditure on advertising for the last five years is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Advertising spend ( million) 
		
		
			 200001 23.9 
			 200102 16.6 
			 200203 11.3 
			 200304 17.0 
			 200405 11.8 
		
	
	Note:
	All expenditure is exclusive of VAT.

Aim Higher

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding will be for Aim Higher in 200607.

Bill Rammell: The funding for Aim Higher in 200607 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Funding source Amount (000) 
		
		
			 DfES 77,000 
			 HEFCE(98) 10,000 
			 Department of Health 600 
			 Total 87,600 
		
	
	(98)To be confirmed.
	This includes money for Aim Higher publicity, evaluation, and national projects as well as funds distributed to local partnerships.

Apprenticeships

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated by the Learning and Skills Council to apprenticeships for (a) 16 to 18 and (b) over 19-year-olds in 200506.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Jimmy Hood, dated 8 July 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, which has been referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Phil Hope, regarding how much funding has been allocated by the Learning and Skills Council to apprenticeships for (a) 16 to 18-year-olds and (b) over 19-year-olds for 200506.
	For 16 to 18-year-olds, we are allocating 597,184,711. For those aged 19 and over, 265,763,060. We are also allocating 221,915,602 for the pre-apprenticeship Entry 2 Employment programme.
	The figures are slightly different for the academic year, which forms the basis of our contracts with providers. For 16 to 18-year-olds, the amount is 594,410,328, for those aged 19 and over, 266,738,550 and for Entry 2 Employment, 226,906,476.
	I trust this is helpful.

Apprenticeships

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce an additional apprenticeship facility for young people who cannot meet the learning requirement of the full apprenticeship but who want to work and engage in flexible learning.

Phil Hope: The content of each apprenticeship framework is designed by the business led Sector Skills Councils in the context of a blueprint agreed between the Department and key stakeholders. Achievement of the full framework is intended to be the minimum requirement for qualified status at either Level 2 or Level 3 within a particular industry. The basic elements of the framework,NVQ, technical certificate, key skills and any other qualifications designated by the sectorform that minimum requirement and are intended to provide as much flexibility as possible while maintaining quality and standards across industries. However, for some young people initial assessment will indicate they may not be able to complete all elements of the framework. A number of other programmes may be suitable for young people in this position. In particular for 16 to 18-year-olds we are piloting a programme to encourage young people in jobs without training to take up learning opportunities. The programme will start in April 2006. For those over 19 and without either basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification we are putting in place the National Employer Training programme to deliver high quality flexible qualifications in the workplace.

Apprenticeships

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the drop-out rate for apprenticeships; and what causes she has identified.

Phil Hope: The Learning and Skills Council measures the number and proportion of young people who complete all the elements of their apprenticeship framework. The completion rate in academic year 2002/03 was 27 per cent., so far in 2004/05 the rate is 35.7 per cent. To further improve completion we have adopted a Performance Indicator for 2007/08 to increase the number of completions by 75 per cent. from 43,000 to 75,000. To achieve this, the Department and the LSC will continue to research and address the reasons for non-completion, which will vary from sector to sector and from employer to employer. Overall, the main reasons that have been identified are: poor quality learning provision; inappropriate or inflexible frameworks, or elements of frameworks; and inadequate initial assessment of apprentices' capabilities. We also have anecdotal evidence of young people not completing due to promotion at work. While this might be seen as a 'good' reason, we are keen that young people and their employers understand the value of completing the full framework, both to productivity and future employability. The LSC will continue with its programme to root out poor provision by withdrawing contracts where necessary. According to the Adult Learning Inspectorate in 200102 the level of inadequate provision was 60 per cent. In 200304 that had fallen to 34 per cent.
	The content of apprenticeship frameworks are set by Sector Skills Councils within a blueprint set by the Department and other key stakeholders. This offers as much flexibility to sectors as possible while maintaining overall standards across industries. Effective initial assessment remains crucial to ensuring that young people have a realistic chance of completing their programme. Providers are judged on the systems they have in place to do this. We will also be focusing our future marketing activity on ensuring that apprenticeships and their value are better understood.

Apprenticeships

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers are expected to take up apprenticeships in 200506 in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 8 July 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (which has been referred to the Learning and Skills Council LSC for a response) regarding how many school leavers are expected to take up apprenticeships in 200506 in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.
	LSC Lancashire does not generate this information, however Connexions does gather data on the intended destinations of all young people leaving school each summer. The data for summer 2005 would give the best indication of the numbers of school leavers expected to take up apprenticeships in 200506. LSC Lancashire has contacted Connexions Lancashire and they have provided the following data. The number of young people in Lancashire intending to take up an apprenticeship is 4,743 and of these, 284 will live in Chorley.
	I trust this is helpful.

Apprenticeships

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost of modern apprenticeships and their successor schemes have been in each year since their introduction.

Phil Hope: Apprenticeships in England are funded through the work based learning for young people budget of the Learning and Skills Council. This budget covers Apprenticeships, Advanced Apprenticeships, NVQ Learning and Entry to Employment. The following table shows estimated spending by the LSC since it was established in 2001.
	
		 million
		
			  Academic year  Total WBL budget Estimated apprenticeship spend 
		
		
			 2001/02 673 467 
			 2002/03 828 539 
			 2003/04 791 560 
			 2004/05 1,037 810 
		
	
	Before the LSC was established apprenticeships were funded by the Training and Enterprise Councils (TEC). Disaggregated data showing the amount of funding spent on apprenticeships from their work based learning for young people budget in this period is not available.

Bursaries (EU Students)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice the Office for Fair Access is seeking in respect of the obligations of institutions to make bursary provision available for EU students.

Bill Rammell: None. Institutions, not the Office for Fair Access, are responsible for deciding their bursary arrangements, including any obligations these may involve in respect of EU students.

Chemistry

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students sat A-level chemistry in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information available on the number of students taking A-level chemistry can be found as follows.
	
		
			  2004 1997 
		
		
			 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates 240,810 231,334 
			 16 to 18-year-old candidates taking  chemistry 32,130 36,429 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The information for this answer is derived from data collected for the School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables (formerly Performance Tables) that are published annually. The most recent information the department holds on A-level results is from 2004.
	2.Ages are taken at the start of the academic year ie 31 August.

Children's Workforce

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the position of educational psychologists will be under the proposed qualifications framework within the new children's workforce;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the proposed review of the functions and contribution of educational psychologists on the numbers planning to train as educational psychologists in the 200607 academic year;
	(3)  what advice the Department provides on (a) funding and (b) training routes for prospective applicants for educational psychologists training;
	(4)  when she expects the proposed review of the functions and contribution of educational psychologists to be completed;
	(5)  what sources of funding are available to people seeking to train as educational psychologists; and what training opportunities are open to such people.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 7 July 2005
	It is the Department's intention that educational psychologists (EPs) will be included within the Single Qualifications Framework. These proposals were published in the Children's Workforce Strategy on 1 April and are currently the subject of a consultation period. We will await comments before a final decision is made about how we proceed.
	Where individuals wish to train as an EP, we would normally point them to the websites of the British Psychological Society, http://www.bps.org.uk/, who are responsible for the accreditation of EP training courses and qualifications, and the Employers' Organisation, http://www.lg-employers.gov.uk, who currently administer, on behalf of the Local Government Association, a postgraduate EP Clearing House and Grant Scheme, funded from within the top-sliced Rate Support Grant provision allocated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with recommendations of the LGA. There are a number of higher education institutions that currently run accredited EP courses, details of which can be obtained from either the BPS or the EO.
	As announced by the hon. Minister for Children, in her written statement to Parliament on 1 February 2005, we expect that the bulk of the work involved in the planned review to be completed in 2005. Given the contract for the work has yet to be placed, it would be inappropriate to speculate as to the effect or outcomes of the review.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to reply to the letter to her dated 1 June 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to R.M. Cawley.

Maria Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Schools and with responsibility for 1419 Learners, replied to the right hon. Member's letter of 1 June 2005 on 30 June 2005.

Degree Awarding

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the number of private sector companies that will be granted degree awarding status as a result of recent legislation introduced by her Department in each of the next five years.

Bill Rammell: In order to be awarded degree awarding powers, private companies would have to meet our stringent criteria. We seek advice from the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) on whether institutions meet our criteria and this process can take some considerable time. At present, the QAA are considering a small number of applications from private companies. We have made no estimates of the numbers of private sector providers likely to attain degree awarding status.

Dyslexia

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department is carrying out into dyslexia; and how much was spent by her Department on such research during each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department is not currently carrying out research into dyslexia. We have however supported a number of pieces of relevant work in recent years.
	Together with W H Smith and other partners, we supported the Dyslexia Institute's (Dl) Spell It research project, which considered the impact of different interventions with seven-year-olds experiencing difficulty with reading. A readers' support pack was one of the outcomes of the Spell It project and we gave the Dl a grant to make copies available to parents through the Institute's network of regional centres. We also gave a grant to QinetiQ, formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, to work with Oxford University and others on some exploratory research into eye movement characteristics as possible indicators of dyslexia.
	To help improve awareness of different approaches, we supported a number of research reviews by Dr.Angela Fawcett of Sheffield University, which are available to interested parties on the Department's special educational needs website. We also gave a grant in support of the British Dyslexia Association's international dyslexia conference, where different techniques are presented and discussed.
	We also supplied funding to support an OECD collaborative research and dissemination initiative to assess the implications of the latest developments in research on brain functioning for the development of literacy and mathematical skills. The latest discoveries in brain science are expected to have profound implications for what we understand as appropriate methods of teaching and learning. For example, brain science is already shedding light on the causes and possible remedies for dyslexia.
	Expenditure on the above amounted to 1,478,344.

Education

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are attending schools in the London borough of Sutton in the 2004/05 academic year, broken down by (a) the local authority in which the child is resident and (b) whether the child is attending (i) primary, (ii) secondary and (iii) special school.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested broken down by local education authority has been provided in the following tables:
	
		Total number of pupils attending schools in Sutton, broken down by residing authority
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools in Sutton 31,297 100.0 
			
			 Home authority   
			 Sutton 24,883 79.5 
			 Croydon 2,383 7.6 
			 Merton 1,624 5.2 
			 Surrey 1,548 4.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 391 1.2 
			 Lambeth 160 0.5 
			 Wandsworth 120 0.4 
			 Bromley 36 0.1 
			 Lewisham 33 0.1 
			 Southwark 22 0.1 
			 Other LEAs 33 0.1 
			 Unknown/not given(99) 64 0.2 
		
	
	(99)Residence of pupil unknown/not given.
	Note:
	''denotes percentage of less than 0.05 per cent.
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Provisional data
	
		Total number of pupils attending schools in Sutton, broken down by phase of education
		
			  Number of pupils Percentage of pupils 
		
		
			 Pupils attending schools in Sutton 31,297 100.0 
			
			 School type   
			 Primary 15,051 48.1 
			 Secondary 15,974 51.0 
			 Special 272 0.9 
		
	
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Provisional data.

Education Funding

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 160W, which geographical areas receive an area cost uplift in the funding formula; what data source is used to determine the uplift; and what percentage of additional funding is allocated to each area in receipt of it.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) area cost uplift is based on research using Labour Force Survey and New Earnings Survey data. The level of the uplift and the areas where it is applied are as follows:
	AreaCosts uplifts by region
	London A20 per cent.
	Camden
	Greenwich
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Lambeth
	Southwark
	Westminster
	Wandsworth
	Hackney
	Tower Hamlets
	Lewisham
	Newham
	Haringey
	Hammersmith
	Fulham
	London B12 per cent.
	Barking and Dagenham
	Bexley
	Havering
	Redbridge
	Barnet
	Enfield
	Waltham Forest
	Bromley
	Croydon
	Kingston upon Thames
	Merton
	Richmond upon Thames
	Sutton
	Brent
	Ealing
	Harrow
	Hillingdon
	Hounslow
	Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire non-fringe3 per cent.
	Bedfordshire County Council
	Bedford
	Luton
	Mid-Bedfordshire
	North Hertfordshire
	South Bedfordshire
	Stevenage
	Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex fringe12 per cent.
	Surrey County Council
	Bracknell Forest
	Crawley
	Elmbridge
	Epsom and Ewell
	Guildford
	Mole Valley
	Reigate and Banstead
	Runnymede
	Slough
	Spelthorne
	Surrey Heath
	Tandridge
	Waverley
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Woking
	Berkshire non-fringe12 per cent.
	Reading
	West Berkshire
	Wokingham
	Buckinghamshire non-fringe7 per cent.
	Aylesbury Vale
	Wycombe
	Milton Keynes
	Hampshire and Isle of Wight2 per cent.
	Basingstoke and Deane
	East Hampshire
	Eastleigh
	Fareham
	Gosport
	Hampshire County Council
	Hart
	Havant
	New Forest
	Portsmouth
	Rushmoor
	Southampton
	Test Valley
	Winchester
	Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire fringe10 per cent.
	Broxbourne
	Chiltern
	Dacorum
	East Hertfordshire
	Hertsmere
	South Bucks
	St. Albans
	Three Rivers
	Watford
	Welwyn Hatfield
	Kent and Essex fringe6 per cent.
	Basildon
	Brentwood
	Dartford
	Epping Forest
	Harlow
	Sevenoaks
	Thurrock
	Oxfordshire7 per cent.
	Oxfordshire County Council
	Cherwell
	South Oxfordshire
	West Oxfordshire
	Oxford
	Vale of White Horse
	West Sussex non-fringe1 per cent.
	Adur
	Chichester
	Mid-Sussex
	Arun
	Horsham
	Worthing

Enterprise Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Education and Skills what progress has been made in integrating enterprise elements into GCSE courses on (a) mathematics, (b) science, (c) English, (d) information technology and (e) design and technology.

Jacqui Smith: Since 2000, all GCSEs have been required to provide opportunities for generating evidence for assessing the six key skills, which are skills for enterprise. In addition, the 1419 White Paper emphasised the need to develop English, maths and ICT curriculum and qualifications to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for employment. The QCA is developing the mathematics curriculum to include financial literacy in the context of the GCSE.
	Progress has also been made in providing guidance from DfES and QCA to teachers of GCSE subjects at key stage 4 on incorporating activities that develop young people's enterprise knowledge and skills.

Enterprise Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) overall and (b) per school funding allocation for enterprise education for each year between 2005 and 2008 is.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are allocating 60 million a year for the three years from September 2005 to support a new focus on enterprise education in all secondary schools. This funding is allocated to individual schools through a simple formula, based 90 per cent. on the number of key stage 4 pupils per school, and 10 per cent. on pupils' eligibility for free school meals.

Enterprise Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the projected (a) number and (b) proportion of secondary schools offering enterprise education (i) in 200405 and (ii) over the next three years is.

Jacqui Smith: We are currently funding over 700 schools through Enterprise Education Pathfinders to offer enterprise education and help us deliver national guidance on the most effective modes of delivery. About 900 schools are supported by the LSC's Enterprise Advisers to help them introduce enterprise educationmaking a total of 50 per cent. of schools who have already been supported. Over the next three years, starting from September 2005, all secondary schools will be funded to provide enterprise education. Ofsted and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will monitor progress.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to her Department.

Bill Rammell: The Department does not maintain a record of contractors based in other EU member states and the information could be provided at only disproportionate costs.

Examination Standards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who is responsible for assessing the consistency of standards across time for (a) the national tests at seven, 11 and 14 years and (b) GNVQs.

Jacqui Smith: As regulator of the public examinations system and of National Curriculum tests, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is accountable to my right hon. Friend for maintaining standards over time in respect of those tests and GNVQ examinations.

Fingerprint-scanning Systems (Schools)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings (a) she and (b) officials from her Department have held with companies providing or seeking to provide fingerprint-scanning systems in schools.

Jacqui Smith: Neither my officials nor I have had any meetings with companies providing or seeking to provide fingerprint-scanning systems in schools.

Further Education Funding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education colleges in England have received (a) a reduction and (b) a percentage increase in their funding of less than three per cent. for 200506.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 30 June2005
	Based upon current Learning and Skills Council records, 34 further education colleges in England (9 per cent. of colleges), have received a reduction in their funding for 200506 when compared to 200405. And 85 further education colleges (22 per cent. of colleges), have had a percentage increase in their funding of less than three per cent.. In total, 262 further education colleges (69 per cent. of colleges) have received a percentage increase in their funding of more than three per cent.
	However, inflation was 2.5 per cent. In total, 283 further education colleges (74 per cent. of colleges) received an increase equal to or greater than inflation.

Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools entered pupils only for the lower tier GCSE mathematics examination in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of pupils studying mathematics at GCSE were entered for the higher tier examination in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many schools entered no pupils for the higher tier GCSE mathematics examination in (a) 200102, (b) 200203 and (c) 200304.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on GCSE mathematics by higher and lower tiers is not held centrally by the Department.

Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils sat GCSE examinations in (a) mathematics and (b) additional mathematics in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of pupils attempting GCSE (full course) mathematics and additional mathematics can be found as follows.
	
		
			  Number of 15-year-old pupils Number of 15-year-old pupils attempting mathematics Number of 15-year-old pupils attempting additional mathematics 
		
		
			 2003/04 643,574 606,002 246 
			 2002/03 622,122 585,045 241 
			 2001/02 606,554 568,645 203 
			 2000/01 603,318 563,594 256 
			 1999/2000 580,393 539,734 236 
			 1998/99 580,972 536,583 254 
			 1997/98 575,210 526,673 194 
			 1996/97 586,766 533,833 141 
			 1995/96 594,035 537,635 152 
			 1994/95 578,197 522,296  
		
	
	GCSE additional mathematics was not available until 199596; therefore it is not possible to provide figures for 199495 for this subject.

Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have sat A Level examinations in (a) mathematics and (b) further mathematics in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on the number of candidates sitting A Level maths and further maths can be found as follows:
	
		
			  1618 year old A Level candidates 1618 year old candidates taking Maths 1618 year old candidates taking Further Maths 
		
		
			 200304 240,810 45,879 5,111 
			 200203 236,288 44,331 4,730 
			 200102 226,169 44,055 4,498 
			 200001 231,656 53,604 5,052 
			 199900 231,423 53,148 5,015 
			 199899 236,091 55,348 5,145 
			 199798 236,154 55,831 5,211 
			 199697 231,334 55,001 4,999 
			 199596 218,254 52,979 4,913 
			 199495 215,424 50,058 4,255

Mathematics

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the English universities which have (a) closed and (b) announced the closure of their mathematics department in the last eight years; and how many places for mathematics have been lost.

Bill Rammell: Information on the closure, merger or opening of particular university courses and departments is not collected centrally by either my Department, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), or the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA). Higher Education Institutions are autonomous organisations responsible for their own academic direction and strategic use of funds, and any decisions on closures of departments are made by them.
	In their advice to the Secretary of State on strategic subjects published last week, HEFCE has estimated thatdespite a fall in activity of 9.3 per cent. (or 1,800 full-time equivalentsFTEs) in mathematics since 19992000, the total activity remained at nearly 17,500 FTEs in 200304, providing a substantial base on which to build. We will be considering HEFCE's advice carefully in the coming months before responding.

Office for Fair Access

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher education institutions in England have informed the Office for Fair Access of the possibility that on clearing they may (a) make adjustments to their fees below the levels set out in their access agreements and (b) offer bursaries or other financial support in excess of that set out in their access agreements; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Office for Fair Access tell me that no institutions have told them explicitly that they are considering amending their fees or bursary proposals during clearing. However, it is open to institutions at any time to seek OFFA's agreement to amend their access agreements, and five institutions have formally proposed to increase the level of bursary support that they will offer students entering in 2006.

Office for Fair Access

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what disciplinary options are available to the Office for Fair Access in respect of upheld complaints from the public that levels of support committed to in access agreements are not being delivered.

Bill Rammell: If there is a serious breach of an access agreement, the director for fair access can direct the Higher Education Funding Council for England to suspend part of an institution's grant until the institution has made restitution to any student who has been disadvantaged, or has taken other measures that it promised to take (for example, to run outreach work). The director can also fine an institution up to a maximum of 500,000, and notify its governing body that he will refuse to approve an access agreement from it for a specified length of time.

Police Officers (Schools)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools employ police officers (a) through the Safer Schools Partnership and (b) outside the Safer Schools Partnership.

Jacqui Smith: There are currently 260 police officers working as part of Safer Schools Partnerships (SSPs) in schools.
	My Department does not have figures for the numbers of police officers working in schools outside a Safer Schools Partnership.

Prison Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of prisons in England and Wales that are providing adequate (i) literacy, (ii)numeracy and (iii) vocational training.

Phil Hope: Learning and skills in prisons in England and Wales are provided by providers acting under contract to the Prison Service and through some direct provision by Prison Service staff.
	The quality of learning and skills provision in prisonsis assessed through a programme of inspections undertaken by the Adult Learning Inspectorate working alongside Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. The ALI Chief Inspectors' Annual Report 2004 records that the quality of Foundation Programmes (covering literacy, language and numeracy provision) was judged to be satisfactory or better in 25 out of 33 (76 per cent.) of prisons inspected in 200304.
	For all other areas of learning, which include vocational training, the provision in 200304 was judged to be satisfactory or better in 65 out of 94 (69 per cent.) instances.

Research and Development

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards the target to increase the ratio of research and development across the economy to 2.5 per cent. of national gross domestic product by 2014; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	In July 2004, the Government published a 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework, which set out an ambition for the UK's total public and private investment in RD to reach 2.5 per cent. of GDP by 2014, together with a comprehensive set of policies designed to achieve this. Figures from 2003, which pre-date the 10-year framework, show that public and private investment in RD stood at 1.9 per cent. of UK GDP. The Government will continue to monitor public and private levels of investment in RD as the 10-year framework is implemented in future years.

Research and Development

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what real-terms percentage increase she expects in research investment by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in each of the next three years.

Bill Rammell: Our overall plans for investment in university research are published each year in the grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), but HEFCE is responsible for determining the distribution of the total between institutions and over academic years. Our latest plans allow for an increase of 6.8 per cent./5.9 per cent./5 per cent. in real terms over the next three financial years (200508).

School Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 471W, on bullying, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Make the Difference series of ministerial conference on bullying in schools.

Jacqui Smith: Between November 2003 and June 2004, a series of regional conferences was run as part of the Make the Difference campaign. These conferences, which welcomed an impressive 5,000 people, offered an opportunity for schools and other partners to share good practice on this issue and to learn at first hand of successful techniques used elsewhere.
	Many delegates reported that the conferences had been exactly what they need in order to return to their schools and start making changes.
	There was also an influx of signed Charters after the conferences at which it was launched.
	One specific result has been that a school that offered an acclaimed workshop at two conferences has now placed its work on DVD in response to requests from many other schools.
	Most importantly schools tell us that the conferences have led to significant changes in schools, acting as a catalyst for innovative ways of tackling the problem.

Science Graduates

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the shortfall in science-qualified graduates against the requirements of industry in each of the last five years, broken down by discipline in which there has been such a shortfall.

Bill Rammell: My Department does not make such estimates.

Skills Shortage

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the skills shortage in (a) the East of England and (b) Hertford and Stortford constituency.

Phil Hope: Figures from the National Employers Skills Survey, conducted by the Learning and Skills Council in 2003, showed that the East of England region had 14,000 skill shortage vacancies at the time of the survey. This compares with 16,000 in 2002 and represents 18.2 per cent. of all England's skill shortage vacancies. 4 per cent. of establishments reported such vacancies, which was the average for England as a whole.
	For East Hertfordshire, which covers the constituency of Hertford and Stortford, seven of the 67 establishments surveyed reported skill shortage vacancies. This equates to 10 per cent. of those surveyed.

State Boarding Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) state boarding schools there are and (b) pupils were educated at state boarding schools in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: There are currently 34 maintained boarding schools in England, with approximately 32,500 pupils, of which 4,500 are boarders.
	There are also 132 maintained special schools with approximately 9,200 pupils, of which 2,900 are boarders.

Student Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) average and (b) maximum amount of support available for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time students in academic years (A)was in 2003/04 and (B) is in 2004/05.

Bill Rammell: The maximum amount available for the standard student support package is set out as follows. Whereas we publish statistics on average fee and maintenance expenditure per student, we do not have data on average amounts available.
	
		
		
			 Student loans Maximum available 75 per cent. non income assessed 25 per cent. income assessed 
		
		
			 Full time student support: 2003/04(100)
			 Students living away from their parents home and studying in: 
			 London 4,930 3,695 1,235 
			 Elsewhere 4,000 3,000 1,000 
			 
			 Students living at their parents home:
			 London or elsewhere 3,165 2,375 790 
			 
			 Part time student support: 2003/042
			 
			 Full time student support: 2004/053
			 Students living away from their parents home and studying in: 
			 London 5,050 3,790 1,260 
			 Elsewhere 4,095 3,070 1,025 
			 
			 Students living at their parents home:
			 London or elsewhere 3,240 2,430 810 
			 
			 Part time student support: 2004/054
		
	
	(100)Grant for fees up to the full 1,125 fee.
	(101)Loan 500.
	(102)Grant for fees up to the full 1,150 fee. HE grant up to 1,000 (the minimum grant is 50).
	(103)Fee grant up to 575. Course grant up to 250.
	In addition to the standard package of full-time support, in both academic years there was a range of extra help available for students with dependants (Adult Dependants Grant, Parents Learning Allowance and Childcare Grant); disabled students (non-means tested Disabled Students Allowances); care leavers (Care Leavers Grant); and certain students incurring additional travel costs (Travel Grant). Also available were discretionary funds such as the Access to Learning Fund and Opportunity Bursaries. Part-time students could also receive Disabled Students Allowances and help from the discretionary funds. In 2003/04 a fee waiver scheme was operated for part-time students through the discretionary Access to Learning Fund. This was replaced with the statutory fee grant in 2004/05.

Student Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 23 June 2005, Official Report, column 1169W, on further and higher education, what the estimated cost of grants for full-time students with dependants domiciled in England and Wales at UK institutions was for each academic year between 19992000 and 200304.

Bill Rammell: Available data are given in the table.
	
		Number of students domiciled in England and Wales at UK institutions in receipt of a dependants' grant, number of grants received, and related expenditure, academic years 1999/2000 to 2003/04
		
			 Academic year Number of students in receipt of a dependants' grant(104) Number of grants awarded to eligible students(104)(5508010105) Expenditure on dependants' grants ( million) 
		
		
			 1999/2000 15,500 27,000 42.6 
			 2000/01 20,400 36,900 59.5 
			 2001/02 23,900 54,500 86.6 
			 2002/03 24,300 59,500 97.8 
			 2003/04 27,900 n/a (106)57.2 
		
	
	(104)Rounded to the nearest 100.
	(105)The figures show the total number of grants received as a student can receive more than one type of grant.
	(106)Expenditure on dependants' grants for children is not included in 2003/04 since, in April 2003 child tax credits became available to individuals with dependent children, and this included students. To avoid double funding for the same purpose it was decided that it was correct to abolish the dependant grants for children from 2003/04 as students could receive the child tax credit.
	Source:
	F503G Survey of local education authorities and SLC.

Student Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total value of student loans outstanding has been at the end of each year between 199394 and 200304.

Bill Rammell: The following table shows the student loan amount outstanding for publicly owned debt in the UK, at the end of each financial year specified.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount outstanding ( million) 
		
		
			 199394 675.1 
			 199495 1,178.0 
			 199596 1,859.0 
			 199697 2,691.0 
			 199798 3,574.3 
			 199899 3,591.9 
			 19992000 3,992.5 
			 200001 6,043.2 
			 200102 8,394.0 
			 200203 10,827.5 
			 200304 (provisional) 13,364.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	The Statistical First Release SFR26/2004 Statistics of Student Loans for Higher Education in the United KingdomFinancial Year 200304 (Provisional) published on 29 July 2004 gives further information on student loan outlay and repayments. It is available on the DfES website at:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000479/index.shtml
	Figures will be updated in the Statistical First Release Student Loans for Higher Education in the United KingdomFinancial Year 200405 (Provisional), due to be published on 28 July 2005 by the Student Loans Company. It will be available on the SLC website at:
	www.slc.co.uk/noframe/corpinfo/natstat.html

Teacher Training

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are in teacher training colleges in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) outer London, (d) inner London and (e) England; and what the figures were for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Qualified teacher status (QTS) is usually obtained by successfully completing an undergraduate course of initial teacher training or by completing a course leading to the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). Both types of courses are run by higher education institutions. In 1993 a new system of school centred ITT (SCITT) was launched. This is mainly postgraduate training that is designed and delivered by a group of schools.
	The numbers of students undertaking initial teacher training in higher education institutions are given in the following table:
	
		Table 1: Number of students in higher education institutions undertaking initial teacher training
		
			 Region 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Southend  
			 Essex 417 425 460 459 426 
			 Outer London 2,962 2,971 3,202 3,629 3,836 
			 Inner London 2,435 2,489 2,307 2,405 2,464 
			 England 45,499 46,188 48,674 50,299 50,600 
		
	
	The number of students undertaking initial teacher training in SCITTs are given in the following table:
	
		Table 2: Number of students in SCITTs undertaking initial teacher training
		
			 Region 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 
		
		
			 Southend 24 23 27 29 29 
			 Essex 96 100 102 147 159 
			 Outer London 62 74 67 64 41 
			 Inner London 90 110 131 111 109 
			 England 1,099 1,213 1,451 1,578 1,763 
		
	
	This data is taken from the TTA Trainee Numbers Census 200004 and does not include employment based routes into teaching.

Training and Enterprise Councils

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what legal action has been taken against the liquidators of training and enterprise councils by her Department; and what assessment she has made of the impact on the former TECs pension funds of legal action.

Phil Hope: My Department has not had recourse to take any legal action against the liquidators of TECs, although we did appoint an administrative receiver in four instances to ensure the best interests of TEC pensioners were adhered to and to help safeguard public funds.
	No assessment has therefore been made of the impact on former TECs' pension funds of legal action.

Tuition Fees

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills how much has been raised from student tuition fees in each year since their introduction.

Bill Rammell: Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
	The amount of private contribution to tuition fees bystudents from England, Wales, and the European Union from 1999/2000 to 2004/05 is given in the table. This does not include Government expenditure on the fee remission grant.
	
		Private contributions to tuition fees for students domiciled in England, Wales, or the European Union for academic years 1999/2000(107) to 2004/05
		
			 Academic year  million 
		
		
			 1999/2000 199.2 
			 2000/01 309.2 
			 2001/02 373.3 
			 2002/03 403.1 
			 2003/04 420.1 
			 2004/05(108) 435.8 
		
	
	(107)Tuition fees were introduced in academic year 1998/99, however as that year was treated as a transitional year, data are not available on the same basis as subsequent years.
	(108)Provisional (as at 31 March 2005)
	Source:
	Student Loans Company
	Data do not include expenditure for those students who decide not to apply for any support with their fees and instead make the full payment direct to the institution.

UK Skills Base

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made on the link between the UK skills base and productivity growth and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The quantity and quality of skilled labour available in an economy is an important determinant of economic performance and productivity growth. Research has shown that, in terms of GDP per hour, 12 per cent. of the productivity gap with France and one-fifth of the productivity gap with Germany is due to the UK's relative skills level.
	In addition to skills investment, innovation, enterprise and competition are all key drivers of productivity growth. These drivers are complementary and interdependent.
	More evidence on the links between skills and productivity can be found at http://www.hm-treasury. gov.uk/documents/enterprise_and_productivitv/ent_ index.cfm

UK-Israel Joint Programmes

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the joint academic and research programmes involving the UK and Israel which have received UK Government funding since 2000.

Bill Rammell: DfES funding for university teaching and research in England is in the form of a block grant, and universities have flexibility to allocate it as they wish between Departments and programmes. We do not monitor which programmes receive funding. The research councils are the other major Government funders of academic research: they do not have any formal co-funding programmes with Israeli funding agencies, but have awarded some funding for projects, including funding to enable collaborations between UK and Israeli researchers.